Read Time: 04 minutes

Synopsis

The Bombay High Court on Friday took suo moto cognizance of the garbage accumulating on Mumbai's seashore.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice M.M. Sathaye registered a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) while noting that microplastics were being found in the intestines of fish, which humans later consume.

The court expressed concern over the environmental and health impact of the pollution affecting the city's marine ecosystem.

“We have taken a suo moto cognizance of PIL in relation to garbage on the shore in Bombay due to microplastic as per the report in TOI. The report is based on the study of the Central Fishery Research Institute (ICAR) based in Mumbai. The fish, in their intestine, micro polythene is found which in turn consumed by you,” the court said.

The bench further said that the garbage obstructed the flood water from returning to the sea.

“There is another study, where due to flood, the garbage created a hurdle for flood water to return. It will cause severe damage to residents. The Nariman point….I don’t know,” Chief Justice Upadhyaya said.

The court expressed that the situation was "horrifying," citing an area in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where the accumulation of garbage is roughly around 1.6 million square kilometres, equivalent to the size of France.

“It is very horrifying. It is not only causing danger to marine life but humans also. Just see…there is an area in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’. It is 1.6 million square which is roughly the area of France. It is intermixed with bigger trash,” the court said.

The bench said the Advocate General, Government Pleader, Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Board and the Union Ministry will be assisting in the suo moto PIL