A viral video circulating widely on social media shows a man dumping a full bag of garbage into the ocean and, when confronted by a climate activist asking, “Yeh sab kachra saaf kaun karega?” the man brazenly pointed back, implying the activist should clean it instead.
The incident has ignited widespread outrage, garnering nearly a million views, thousands of likes and comments, with many users condemning the man’s callous attitude and calling for stricter measures against environmental pollution.
Officials and activists alike have condemned the act, emphasizing the urgent need for environmental responsibility.
Man Throws Garbage in Ocean
The video was posted by climate activist Lisbon Ferrao on Instagram, capturing the shocking moment in which the man nonchalantly discards plastic waste into the ocean near the shore.
Ferrao’s caption criticised the behaviour as symbolic of a broader “uncontrollable” disregard for cleanliness and the environment common to some individuals in India.
The clip sparked intense debates online about civility and civic duty, with commenters lamenting the degradation of public consciousness towards waste management amid increasing pollution challenges.
How Dumping Waste in Water Harms Ecosystems
Throwing garbage into water bodies severely harms the environment and eventually impacts human health. Plastic and chemical waste pollutes oceans and rivers, causing habitat destruction, poisoning aquatic life, and introducing toxins into the food chain.
Marine animals ingest or get entangled in debris, leading to injury and death, which disrupts ecosystems. Pollutants also reduce oxygen levels in water, threatening biodiversity.
Toxic substances accumulate in fish, which humans consume, risking health issues such as cancers and neurological damage. Furthermore, pollution degrades water quality, threatens coastal communities, and contributes to climate change by impairing natural carbon capture processes in oceans.
UN Report on Marine Pollution
According to a 2025 report by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, marine pollution is reaching alarming levels with over 17 million metric tons of waste clogging oceans, expected to double or triple by 2040.
Plastic pollution, the most damaging form, disrupts marine life, food webs, and human food security by contaminating seafood with toxic microplastics. Ocean acidification, worsened by pollution, threatens coral reefs and biodiversity.
The report warns that marine pollution causes economic losses of about $13 billion annually, including cleanup and fisheries impact costs, underscoring the urgent need for global conservation and pollution control efforts.
Urgent Call for Action and Accountability
Authorities and environmental groups condemned the incident, underscoring the harmful impacts of ocean pollution on marine life and coastal communities. Mumbai Police have a track record of registering FIRs against offenders for such offences, reinforcing legal deterrents.
Public activists demand stronger surveillance, community engagement and environmental education to curb similar reckless behaviour. Experts warn that such apathy threatens India’s coastal biodiversity and human health, urging collective responsibility to combat pollution and protect natural resources.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s environmental challenges require profound shifts in attitudes and behaviours towards waste and nature. Beyond condemnation, fostering empathy, constructive dialogue and community-led conservation initiatives are vital to nurturing respect for our shared environment. This incident illustrates a pressing need for education and enforcement to awaken civic consciousness.
