Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Eshwar B. Khandre on Tuesday directed officials of the Environment Department to get a detailed project prepared for the implementation of the World Bank-aided Karnataka Shore Blue Pack Project to make the sea plastic waste-free.
The Minister was speaking after interacting with a World Bank delegation led by senior environmental economist of the bank Pablo Benitez Ponce at Bengaluru.
Mr. Ponce works for the environment and natural resources global practice in the bank.
Expressing shock over the fact that about 50 tonnes of plastic waste get accumulated along the 317 km shoreline of Karnataka, Mr. Khandre noted that the waste poses severe threat to marine life in general and turtles that come to the coast to lay eggs in particular.
Mr. Khandre said the need to contain marine plastic menace was more pronounced than ever in the backdrop of plastic waste threatening the existence of almost all living beings and natural bodies. The project could help reduce the impact of plastic waste menace in Karnataka coast, he said.
Members in the delegation told the Minister that the fishers in the coast could clear the plastic waste when they were off from fishing activities. Plastic waste collection might fetch them more income to income from fishing activities, they felt.
The Blue Pack Project would be implemented at an estimated cost of ₹840 crore, of which 70% comes from the World Bank as loan the balance to be borne by the State government, the delegation said. The Niti Ayog and Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have supported the Primary Project Report, they said.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Development) Brijesh Kumar Dikshit, Principal Secretary to Government (Environment and Ecology), Vijay Mohan Raj and others were present.
