To prevent floating waste materials from entering water bodies, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is readying up a network of floating waste barriers in Mumbai, which are being installed in creeks and water bodies to prevent the flow of excessive marine litter into water bodies.
A floating waste barrier, also known as a litter boom or trash boom, is akin to a conveyor belt made with heavy-duty fabrics like plastic or metal that are designed to float on the surface of water. These barriers are anchored to a stationary structure, and the floating waste flowing into the water gets caught in these barriers. Later, the accumulated waste items are collected by the civic authorities and disposed of. The purpose of installing these barriers is to prevent floating waste materials creating any hindrance in the water flow, which eventually leads to overflow of drains and canals during the monsoon, resulting in water logging.
Civic officials said that the work of installing nine barriers is nearing completion, and in the next month, eight more barriers will be installed in multiple locations in the western suburbs. Officials also maintained that these barriers are being installed at several points in Gorai, Malad, and Andheri East to prevent waste from entering Madh creek and Mithi river. The officials also added that all the locations where these barriers are installed adjoin storm water drain (SWD) outfalls or points where drains meet the creek and sea.
“Before monsoon, we intend to install 17 such barriers in multiple locations in the western suburbs; six more barriers will be installed post-monsoon, and by the end of this year, we will have floating barriers installed at as many as 23 locations in the western suburbs of Mumbai,” a civic official told the Indian Express. Prior to this, floating barriers were installed at eight different locations in Mumbai, all of which are operational. The first barrier was installed at Colaba in south Mumbai.
“These eight barriers were installed as a pilot method, and they had shown impressive results. During monsoon, around 3 metric tons (MT) of solid waste were collected by our officers from the points where these barriers are installed. We have carried out a feasibility study and chalked out areas where there is a requirement of installing these barriers,” the official said.
Civic officials had floated a Rs 35 crore tender for installation, operation, and maintenance of these barriers, while the cost of acquiring a single barrier ranges between Rs 1-1.5 crore, depending on the quality.
Civic officials said that besides these, the civic authorities are also installing nets at SWD outfalls to prevent floating waste from entering water bodies.
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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2022 ordered the BMC to find remedial measures to prevent floating waste from entering water bodies, following which the civic authorities chalked out measures for installing these barriers on the water bodies in Mumbai.
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