INDIAN COAST GUARD CONDUCT 24TH NATIONAL OIL SPILL DISASTER CONTINGENCY
Chennai 30 November 2022
INDIAN COAST GUARD CONDUCT 24TH NATIONAL OIL SPILL DISASTER CONTINGENCY PLAN (NOSDCP) & PREPAREDNESS MEETING
The Indian Coast Guard conducted the 24thNational Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP) and Pr eparedness Meeting at Chennai on 30 Nov 2022. Director General VS Pathania, PTM, TM, Director General Indi an Coast Guard, Chairman NOSDCP, chaired the meeting. About 100 delegates including representatives of vari ous Ministries, Central and State Government departments and agencies, State Pollution Control Board, Ports and Oil Handling Companies participated in the meeting.
The national capabilities with the common aim to ensure collective preparedness to respond to any oil spill cont ingency in Indian waters was reviewed during the meeting.
Presently, as the third largest importer of crude, India receives large volumes of oil through ships. Similarly, India stands sixth in the world as a major chemical importer country. Both oil and chemicals if spilled pose inherent ris ks to the Maritime Zones of India and the connected coastlines housing large coastal population, marine eco-sys tem, industries and various installations along with supporting the tourism industry. Preventive measures, by th e Central Coordinating Agency, Ship Owners, Oil Handling Facilities and other concerned stakeholders are thus, required to be taken to prepare for combating any likely marine spill.
Director General VS Pathania, PTM, TM, Director General Indian Coast Guard, Chairman, NOSDCP in his addr ess, committed that ICG cognizant and prepared for the threats to the Region and its resources, including mari ne oil and chemical spill at sea. He stressed that as new vulnerabilities continue to emerge, the stakeholders mu st recognize the opportunity to enhance cooperation through stronger partnerships, effective coordination and imbibing best practices of the developing technology.
PS/RMP/SS/11/22
