Union Govt approved Plan to ease the Effect of Oil Spills on Environment

Union government approved the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) in the Month of June 2013 in order to lessen the effect of oil spills on land and in marine areas.

The basic thought behind approving NOSDCP is to diminish the impact of all oil spills on the environment by setting specific standards for oil spill equipment stockpiles, establishing time frames for oil spill response and increasing collaboration among partner agencies.

It is important here to note that the 18th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan and preparedness meeting was held at Dehradun on 31 May 2013 and since then there has been no major oil spill.

Severe efforts were put in by the various resource agencies and stakeholders for cleaning of oiled mangroves at Sikka and Sarmat in the Gulf of Kutchchh, capping of gas leak from the ONGC well off Kakinada, and response to the fire onboard M.V Amsterdam Bridge off the Mumbai harbour.

As per the Government there is a need for periodical review of contingency plans in order to ensure swift and efficient mobilisation of critical resources in the event of any oil spill emergency.