The Hindu : Plastics can choke the Andamans, warn scientists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 01, 2003

National

National

Plastics can choke the Andamans, warn scientists

By P. Sunderarajan

NEW DELHI SEPT. 30. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands face a potential ecological disaster because of the indiscriminate dumping of plastic and other wastes by ships plying in the Bay of Bengal and the improper handling of solid wastes in some countries in the region.

Presenting the findings of a survey conducted in April and May, scientists from the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology pointed out that the large amount of plastic and other wastes found both on shore and off shore could deal a deathblow to the marine wealth of the region and damage the coral reef, for which the islands are famous.

Pieces of floating plastic can attract and hold chemicals such as DDT up to one million times the background levels and as a result can act like poison pills for aquatic organisms. Likewise, debris floating in the sea could import a wide range of organisms such bacteria and fungi, which are not native to the region. "When organisms from one environment are carried to another part of the world, significant problems can arise," they said.

Expressing concern over the hazards faced by the `leatherback turtle' — Greater Nicobar is one of the important breeding grounds of the species — the scientists urged the Government to take immediate remedial measures. In a report published in the latest issue of Current Science, they suggested that the Government could take recourse to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, under which severe penalties can be imposed on ships that do not dispose of their wastes properly, and discuss with the adjoining countries the need to ensure an efficient system for disposal of wastes in their coastal areas. The neighbouring countries include Singapore, Malaysia, Sumatra, Myanmar and Thailand.

The scientists said there were clear indications that debris from at least some of these countries, if not all, could be circulating continuously in the open seas and the coastal areas, and getting washed ashore.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands comprise 572 islands, islets and exposed rocks, and the coastline extends to 1,912 km, almost one-fourth of the country's total.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National