Mumbai to Install Barriers Along Waterways to Curb Plastic Waste Flowing Into Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean
Mumbai to Install Barriers Along Waterways to Curb Plastic Waste Flowing Into Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean
Mumbai is gearing up to deploy specially designed barriers across key waterways to prevent plastic waste from entering the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean, municipal and environmental officials announced on Tuesday. The project, expected to begin in phases throughout 2026, targets waterways in Trombay and Malad that have been identified as major channels through which plastic pollution travels to the sea.
The initiative is being driven by The Ocean Cleanup, a Netherlands‑based non‑profit organisation that creates solutions to extract and intercept plastic before it reaches the open ocean. The Ocean Cleanup is collaborating closely with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to roll out the systems.
“The city of Mumbai is set to see the installation of engineered barriers designed to catch plastic debris before it makes its way into the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean,” said a spokesperson for The Ocean Cleanup. “Initial installations will be placed in the Trombay and Malad waterways, which our data analysis has shown to be significant pathways of ocean‑bound plastic waste.”
Once up and running, these first barrier systems are projected to collect between 61 and 92 tonnes of plastic annually. Research conducted by the organisation indicates that plastic accounts for roughly 80% of all marine litter found along India’s coastal regions.
Deployment of the technology will take place in stages, with the first phase set to be completed ahead of the upcoming monsoon season — a period known to carry large amounts of waste from inland areas toward the sea.
A survey by The Ocean Cleanup estimated that Mumbai currently discharges around 5 million kilograms of plastic waste into the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean each year. This pollution affects nearly 220 kilometres of coastline, threatens 152 square kilometres of mangrove habitat, endangers 107 protected species, and jeopardises the livelihoods of almost 1.9 million people who depend on coastal and marine environments.
According to experts, the majority of the plastic pollution comes from urban runoff, industrial effluent, and gaps in effective waste management within the metropolis.
Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, emphasised India’s importance in global efforts to tackle plastic pollution: “Given the immense amount of plastic debris along India’s shores, intercepting waste before it reaches the sea is essential to preserving marine health.” He added that The Ocean Cleanup’s 30 Cities Programme has prioritised Mumbai as a key focus, and that the organisation will work with government bodies, implementation partners, NGOs and local communities to ensure that interventions are impactful, locally relevant, and sustainable in the long term.
Global research by The Ocean Cleanup has shown that a small fraction of the world’s waterways — just 1,000 out of roughly 3 million rivers — are responsible for nearly 80% of plastic flowing into the oceans. Through its ambitious 30 Cities Programme, the organisation aims to reduce river‑based plastic emissions by one‑third by applying comprehensive strategies and proven technologies in the most problematic urban areas around the world.
Mumbai’s recognition as a critical intervention point underscores both the scale of plastic leakage from the city’s waterways and the urgent need to protect its coastal ecosystems and dependent communities.
Concluding the announcement, officials noted that this phased deployment of plastic‑catching barriers marks a significant step toward cleaner waterways and healthier seas, demonstrating how targeted technological solutions, backed by data and multi‑stakeholder cooperation, can make a measurable difference in combating marine pollution.
