India to join Clean Sea Campaign: PM Narendra Modi

UNEP launched the 'Clean Seas' programme in February 2017 to fight marine plastic litter with the help of governments, civil society and citizens

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the World Environment Day event with minister Mahesh Sharma and UN environment head Erik Solheim on Tuesday - BB Yadav, DNA

According to the Clean Seas campaign at least 8 million tonnes of plastic leaks into the ocean each year. This has had a severe impact on aquatic life, found to be literally dying due to ingestion.

The environment ministry's focus during this year's event was on curbing single-use plastic that is used on a daily basis across the country. According to official data, about 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year in India and of this, only 60 per cent is recycled. Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said, "Plastic is not the problem, but what we do with plastic is the problem. Plastic packaging accounts for all plastic waste, which is all single use," adding his ministry hopes to eliminate it by 2022.