‘Oil spill killed other marine beings too’

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said that field investigations have been carried out by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, under his Ministry.  

“The Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in seawater increased due to the oil spill. The rocky shore and flora and fauna close to the spillage area were directly affected. Mollusc species such as mussels and rock oyster were found to be clogged with oil. Crabs, star gazer fishes and Olive Ridley turtles were also affected. Death of star gazer fishes and Olive Ridley turtles and loss of bivalve species, mostly green mussel and rock oyster has also been reported,” he said. 

On January 28, two shipping vessels had collided outside the Kamarajar Port at Ennore, resulting in rupture of a ship and oil spill. The seawater had blackened and some turtles were found dead near the north Chennai shoreline following the incident. 

The government is aware of the likely threat to marine life resulting from Chennai oil spill. He said the steps taken to improve marine life in the Bay of Bengal and along the entire coast of the country include implementation of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011, issued by the Environment Ministry and setting norms for discharge of effluents into marine environment. 

“In so far as removal of Chennai oil spill is concerned, the clean-up operations have led to recovery of marine life. The crab species found in burrows have reappeared on beaches,” he said.