The collision of two cargo vessels off the Ennore coast in Chennai on January 28 has been a devastating environmental disaster for our marine ecosystem, aquatic life and the coastal communities.
Initial official reports stated that only a tonne of oil had leaked, all was under control, and there was no casualty. Twenty-four hours later, the picture had changed. The oil slick had spread to Marina beach.
Over a 1,000 volunteers, government personnel, NGOs and students joined hands to tackle the formidable task of removing the thick acrid crude. It was alarming to see volunteers and workers, without suitable protective clothing/masks, using buckets to scoop out the heavy sludge. Most of them oblivious that the oil was highly toxic, carcogenic and may cause severe skin diseases.
According to Pradeep Mandal, Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard, handling the clean-up operations, over 70 tonne had been removed manually. While agencies were busy on the shore, the slick was spreading along the coast.
Missing were the boats with the “skimmers”—the floating thick absorbent bands—that could have helped tow away the oil from the coastline. Over 32 km of the coast is now impacted by tar balls, sludge and a stinking stench, and it is moving southwards.
Chennai oil spill is small compared to similar other accidents across the globe. But this small one got out of hand and resulted in widespread damage to the marine ecosystem.
Apart from the delay in response and lack of coordination among the agencies involved in the mop-up operation, we are ill-equipped and don’t have a sizable emergency task force to cope with such calamities.
Although the National Disaster Management Authority response teams are in place, we lack state-of-the-art infrastructure, manpower and technology.
There is need to generate awareness and educate people about natural disasters. While early warning systems against storms, cyclones and tsunamis are installed along the coast, there is need for more if we have to handle emergencies efficiently and effectively.
Armed forces are always called in for rescue operations during such disasters. While they play a crucial role, what we need are personnel and experts especially trained in managing such situations.
Every year, on an average over 700 million gallons of crude and waste oil enter our oceans through spills from offshore oil rigs, leaks in tankers, illegally discharged waste sludge from oil tankers, accidents; and from land, smoke-laden particulates from motor vehicles and fossil fuels.
The year 1989 witnessed a major global disaster in Alaska. A tanker, Exxon Valdez, full of crude oil, struck a reef and tore the hull. Over 11 million gallons of oil polluted over 1,600 km of the coastline. Twenty-seven years later, most of the Alaskan beaches still remain polluted.
Natural disasters come sans warning. No power on earth can withstand nature’s fury. Staying prepared can certainly deflect and mitigate the extent of devastation. Apart from that, in the final analysis, the world needs to find an alternative source of energy. The sooner the better for us all—and our planet.tigersdomain@gmail.com