Pollution Response Exercise at Paradip
Coast Guard District Headquarters, No. 7 Odisha conducted Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise at Paradip from 21-23 Nov 23
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Coast Guard District Headquarters, No. 7 Odisha conducted Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise at Paradip from 21-23 Nov 23. Representatives from the concerned stake holders from the states of Odisha and West Bengal attended and participated in the Exercise. The alm of the exercise was to improve coordination and enhance readiness amongst various agencies towards combating oil pollution at sea.
Indian Coast Guard is the Nodal agency in the country for ccombating marine Oil Pollution. The Coast Guard has ppromulgated a National Oil Spil (Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) in which the rresponsibilities of all stake holders have been clearly defined.
The event was inaugurated by DIG YK Singh, Commander Coast Guard, District Odisha on 21 Nov 23. Speaking on the occasion DIG Singh highlighted the importance of pollution response exercises encompassing all the stake holders. He said conducting such exercise will not only improve the cohesiveness, preparedness and response mechanism of stake holders and agencies towards mitigating marine oil pollution at sea, but also validate the NOSDCP.
A table top exercise was conducted on the first day which gave a preview to the participants about the subsequent beach cleanup and sea exercise. On 22 Nov 23 shoreline cleanup at Paradip beach was undertaken to demonstrate the actions/techniques of beach cleanup in the scenario if oil reaches to shore and inter-tidal zones. Volunteers from various organization such as CISF, NCC, Odisha Police, Marine Police, Paradip college, Paradip Municipality also participated in this exercise.
On 23 Nov 23 sea exercise was conducted off Paradip harbor. During the sea exercise, an oil spill scenario from a merchant vessel wa5 simulated at sea. Coast Guard Ships and aircraft along with tug ex-Paradip port trust demonstrated the pollution response capabilities at sea.
The exercise gave a hands-on experience to all the participants to mitigate any future Oil spill contingency at sea. During the exercise real-time deployment of PR equipment such as booms, skimmers, spill spray arms, flexible barges for containment, recovery 6 storage of spilled oil was undertaken by Coast Guard and stakeholders.
