Finally, port orders probe

A press release by KPL stated, “KPL has also ordered an enquiry by Capt Subhash Kumar, Marine expert whose report is expected in a week. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), an autonomous centre of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), has been engaged by KPL to study the impact on environment.” 

Dr Ramesh R, Director, NCSCM, said, “This type of crude oil forms a layer on the surface of the sea. Light penetration is cut off, which will adversely affect the organisms living in the ocean, both plants and animals. We are studying the samples for the impact on marine life.” 

Experts have started ascertaining the long-term impact of the oil spill on marine ecology. Scientists from Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management Project Directorate (ICMAM PD), an attached office of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), say that in tropical water, oil spill residues can remain up to six months. 

“It will take six months to one year for the oil to completely disperse. In tropical waters, the oil residue can remain in the sediment form. The residual time will ascertain the impact on the environment. The biological impact is visible immediately, by death of fish and other sea animals. But the impact of the residue can only be ascertained after studying the samples regularly over an extended period, for instance, an year,” said Dr Pravakar Mishra, Scientist. 

ICMAM PD has been regularly monitoring the city’s coastline for the past three years. 

“Using this data, we will be studying the change in water quality, quantity of hydrocarbons present in samples collected after the oil spill and how this will impact the marine life. Samples will be collected monthly to see how the oil spill will affect the food chain,” he concluded. 

Meanwhile, the Ennore Port also pointed out that seven new hotspots have been identified between Fisheries Harbour and Ernavur, adding that manpower and equipment will be deployed to tackle this situation at the earliest. 

KPL has also refuted the quantity of oil spillage mentioned by the Coast Guard, adding, “There is a vast difference between quantity of oil spilled and sludge recovered since the oil gets coagulated and becomes puffy when it is recovered along with water, sand, etc. which are stored in drums. The tonnes which is reported by Coast Guard is taking 1 kilolitres as 1 tonne which needs to be corrected by actual weighment of the oil.” 

The Port has also identified 500 sq mtr of land to receive the recovered sludge on its premises and are making arrangements for treatment as per the advice of R&D Department of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).