State Level Annual Pollution Response Seminar cum Workshop 2019 by Coast Guard

State Level Annual Pollution Response Seminar cum Workshop 2019 by Coast Guard

Mangaluru : Headquarters, No.3 Coast Guard District, Karnataka organized two days State Level Annual Pollution Response Seminar cum Workshop for the state of Karnataka with other stakeholders on 17-18 Sep 2019. The two-day workshop aimed to provide the techniques to clean up oil spill contingency planning framework, strategies and policies, including implementation of existing relevant national legislation and international treaties.

The seminar was inaugurated by Ms. Sindhu B Rupesh, IAS, Dy Commissioner Dakshina of Kannada District. On this occasion Ms Sindhu B Rupesh, IAS the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada District released the District Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan ( DOS-DCP) 2019-20 for Dakshina Kannada District. Addressing the stakeholders Dy Commissioner impressed upon a need for being in continuous preparedness to handle any kind of oil spill in the sea as Mangalore receives voluminous crude oil through NMPT and urged all stakeholders to work in unison for any eventualities. She also emphasized on taking all precautionary measures to prevent oil spill into the sea. She complimented the role of Indian Coast Guard in handling coastal security as well as at time of state exigencies

Addressing the inaugural session, the Commander Coast Guard Karnataka DIG SS Dasila, TM reiterated the term “Prevention” as an idealistic interpret for the complete elimination of all discharges or spills and then consider achieving such objectives. Additionally, the Workshop might also to work on modalities to consider “Prevention of Oil Spills” which would recognize that accidental oil releases will occur no matter how good the preventative measures be Dasila said.

The 35 participants included representatives from oil handling agencies operating in three coastal district of Karnataka state and other agencies like MRPL, NMPT, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), CMFRI, NITK Suratkal, Fisheries, Customs, CSP, HPCL and IOCL at the workshop. Coast Guard has invited Mr Vijay Kumar, District Disaster Management Officer, Shri Jayprakash Naik, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s Scientific Officer, Ms. Bindu Sulochana, CMFRI Scientist, Professor Rajmohan, NITK, Sri Roshan Dhakate, Sr Manager MRPL and other dignitaries including Coast Guard Officers to deliver the presentations over two days that aimed to provide the necessary background to support strategic decision making in the event of an oil spill.

The second day of workshop was focused on table-top spill response and NMPT/MRPL demonstration on various response techniques to clean up headed by Cpt Gaurav Mathur, Harbour Master NMPT.