NEWS in brief
Global Highlights sector , gathering unprecedented support and featuring prominently in the international agenda .
Today , 32 Governments across the world have already signed up to the Campaign and committed to specific legal and policy measures to tackle marine plastic pollution . The length of their coastlines combined represents more than 40 % of the world total .
Over 10,700 individuals have signed up , volunteered and promoted actions to fight marine plastic litter around the world , through beach cleanups , responsible consumption initiatives and advocacy projects .
To spread its message , CleanSeas has kick started major institutional and private sector partnerships with the Volvo Ocean Race , the world ’ s toughest sport competition , the World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums , gathering over 400 institutes around the world , and the Lonely Whale Foundation , a key advocate for the health of our oceans .
This is a great start , but there is so much more that we can do . Our goal is to have industrial plastics management improved , non-recoverable plastics phased out , and singleuse plastic significantly reduced by 2022 . We can deliver only through the participation of supporters from all over the world .
We are all part of the problem ; we can be all part of the solution .
Worker dies cleaning sewer pipeline at Mumbai ’ s Sassoon Docks
A man died while cleaning a sewer pipeline at Sassoon Docks in Mumbai Port Trust ( MbPT ) on Tuesday . He was one of three workers who were in the process of cleaning the sewer pipeline when gas filled the chamber they were in . They all became unconscious and were rushed to St George Hospital . Sadly only two of them regained consciousness .
According to the Indian Express , locals have alleged that the death was due to negligence on the part of the contractor during the cleaning project . The publication quotes one , Krishna Pavle , a Shiv Sena coordinator who runs a fishing business at Sassoon Docks , as saying :
“ An art festival has been planned at the Docks next month , and since foreigners are expected , they are cleaning the area . However , no safety equipment like masks , gloves or coats were provided to the workers . While crores of rupees are sanctioned by the government for MbPT development , it is not being used to provide well-equipped machinery .”
The accident is being investigated by the authorities .
Sri Lanka issues RfP for desalination PPP at Hambantota
Sri Lanka Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade has issued a request for proposals ( RfP ) on a seawater desalination plant at Hambantota , in its Southern Province .
Sri Lanka is stepping up its desalination capacity with RfP for a publicprivate partnership project
The project is envisaged as a public-private partnership ( PPP ) contract with Sri Lanka ’ s Board of Investment ( BOI ), which operates under the authority of the ministry .
The RfP calls for initial bids for investment , construction , and maintenance and operations over 50 years , of a 20,000 m3 / d seawater reverse osmosis plant , conveyance system , and associated works .
Two potential sites for intake have been identified near Hambantota Magampura Sea Port , about five kilometres from the proposed site of the plant . The area is connected to the national electricity grid with capacity of 5MVA .
A plot of 4.6 acres has been earmarked for the plant within Mirijjawila Export Processing Zone , whose current water demand is 2,000 m3 / d . Adjacent to the project site , about 15,000 acres is available to industry for development . At a pre-proposal meeting on 30 October 2017 , BOI indicated that it will take 25 per cent of the produced water , and the developer will be required to find demand for the remaining capacity .
A rough guide to the cost of the project is $ 20 to $ 25 million .
The deadline for proposals is 15 January 2018 . Source : desalination . biz
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