Tamil Nadu takes aggressive measures to contain Chennai oil spill

In response to a recent oil spill near Chennai Port, the Tamil Nadu government has taken decisive steps to contain the environmental impact and hold accountable those responsible for the incident.

In an exclusive conversation with CNBC-TV18, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Forests, Environment, & Climate Change, Tamil Nadu, revealed that the government has entered into a strategic partnership with Chennai Port, deploying specialised personnel and machinery to address the aftermath of the oil spill.

To combat the spread of oil, the government has deployed three large oil boomers, accompanied by oil skimmers, to efficiently remove oil within the boomers. Forty tonnes of oil-laden sludge and 20 tonnes of oil have already been successfully removed.

The government has also said that as many as 75 boats and 300 personnel have been deployed for oil spill mitigation work. These boats are involved in the suction of oil from the surface and transporting it safely to the shore.

Four gully sucker machines have been deployed to suck the oil from the water surface. Cleaning oil-soaked debris from nearby villages had begun.

“We have very little expertise when it comes to shoreline oil spills. Ocean oil spills have set SOPs with coastguards and big ships to help. Oil spills in a creek area are challenging since livelihoods and biodiversity are greatly impacted,” Sahu added.

A dedicated oil spill management group is meeting daily to assess the situation and refine the response strategy. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has also issued a notice to Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL) seeking explanations for the leak and urging the company to provide a mitigation plan. The government is eagerly awaiting CPCL's response.

The potential irreparable loss to biodiversity due to the oil spill has prompted the Tamil Nadu Environment Department to conduct a scientific and rapid biodiversity impact assessment, focusing on mangroves and plankton in affected water bodies. The findings will be published in an impact assessment report in the coming days, she said.