162 kg of waste removed from Hooghly River

On World Water Day, the Sea Explorers' Institute (SEI) partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to clean the Hooghly River at Sundari Ghat. In just two hours, they used a fishing net to collect 162 kilograms of waste. The cleanup involved local boatmen, fishermen, vendors, and cleaners who rely on the river for their livelihoods. The waste included plastic bottles, sheets, and other debris. Disturbingly, they found dead fish and prawns, likely killed by chemical pollution in the water. SEI plans to expand this initiative to 20 more ghats in Kolkata. Sudeshna Chatterjee, SEI’s secretary general, highlighted the success of the pilot cleanup and mentioned they are seeking corporate funding to continue the effort. Kalyan Rudra, chairman of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, emphasized the importance of the river for drinking water, transportation, and local industries. He urged for better protection against pollution. Sangita Mitra, director of WWF, warned about the dangers of plastic waste. She noted that plastics can break down into microplastics, which contaminate the food chain. Mitra stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle this issue, including waste prevention, continuous cleaning, and community involvement.