MUMBAI: A non-profit named Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation (BCRF), has tied up with The Ocean Cleanup, the world’s leading platform for removal of ocean trash, for a programme to rid India’s rivers of plastic. A joint initiative by the founders of West Coast Marine Yacht Services and DialESG – Aashim Mongia and Shailesh Haribhakti – BCRF plans to use leading technologies to tackle the problem of water pollution from plastic waste.
Ocean Cleanup’s research reveals that 144 of the 1,000 most polluted major river systems are in India, with 47 in Maharashtra, and 13 in Mumbai. BCRF’s focus is on improving marine ecosystems and biodiversity starting with Mumbai so that waterfronts turn pristine and drive tourism and sustainable fishing.
Marine plastic pollution’s scale and complexity can no longer be understated. Here are a few startling facts:
● By 2050, there will be more plastic (by weight) than fish in the world’s oceans
● An average person ingests the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic every week – from contaminated seafood, drinking water, food, and even air
● 99% of all seabird species will have ingested marine plastic by 2050
To date, Ocean Cleanup has helped remove close to 8.2 million kg of trash from seven river locations and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Appreciating the uniqueness of each river and its ecosystem, their execution approach is built upon: AI-driven data collection, modelling, and research; multi-stakeholder engagements to assess impact on associated ecosystems and ensure local ownership and empowerment in local solutions; delivering long-term curated solutions and reporting impact.
For India, the BCRF-Ocean Cleanup partnership brings together research and technology prowess, marine execution capability, and an understanding of sustainability, said Mongia, a yachtsman who is an Arjuna awardee and has knowledge of waterfronts, marinas, and water transport. Shailesh Haribhakti is a board professional, who has worked with several companies on corporate governance, net zero pathways, and frontier technology adoption.
