Bhubaneswar: The Indian Coast Guard conducted a two-day regional-level pollution response exercise at Paradip. The event, which witnessed representatives from the concerned stakeholders from Odisha and West Bengal, concluded on Thursday.
The event was inaugurated by DIG YK Singh, Commander of Coast Guard, District Odisha on November 21. Speaking on the occasion DIG Singh highlighted the importance of pollution response exercises encompassing all the stakeholders.
He said such an exercise will not only improve the cohesiveness, preparedness and response mechanism of stakeholders and agencies towards mitigating marine oil pollution at sea, but also validate the NOSDCP.
The aim 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 combating marine Oil Pollution.
A tabletop exercise was conducted on the first day which gave a preview to the participants about the subsequent beach cleanup and sea exercise. On November 22, shoreline cleanup at Paradip beach was undertaken to demonstrate the actions/techniques of beach cleanup in the scenario, if oil reaches 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 November 23, sea exercise was conducted off Paradip harbour. During the sea exercise, an oil spill scenario from a merchant vessel was simulated at sea. Coast Guard Ships and aircraft along with tug ex-Paradip port trust demonstrated the pollution response capabilities at sea.
