Mangrove Restoration Begins in Ennore Creek Post Oil Spillage

Mangrove Restoration Begins in Ennore Creek Post Oil Spillage

VoM News Desk | December 23, 2023 | 11:23 AM IST | Breaking News, Tamil Nadu | Follow on Google News

Mangrove Restoration Begins in Ennore Creek Post Oil Spillage/ANI

Mangrove Restoration Begins in Ennore Creek Post Oil Spillage

Senior officials from Tamil Nadu’s Environment, Climate Change, and Forest Department have commenced the restoration of mangroves in Ennore Creek, following an oil spill caused by Cyclone Michaung earlier this month.

The spillage emerged from the premises of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) and seeped into the Buckingham Canal, reaching Ennore Creek, following floods triggered by the cyclone.

The emergency oil recovery work was concluded recently, involving nearly 900 individuals, including trained sea cleaning agencies and local fishermen.

The cleanup effort utilized low-speed seawater jet pipes, soak pads, skimmers, and oil booms to remove the oil deposits covering approximately 60 hectares of mangroves. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Forest, highlighted that although the process is meticulous and laborious, the restoration of this extensive area has commenced in four zones.

Taking charge on the ground, Sahu, alongside a team comprising officers, CPCL representatives, cleaning agencies, and affected fishermen communities, supervised the tasks and observed that while most areas had recovered from the spill, the mangroves demanded prolonged attention due to the specialized nature of the task.

In consultation with experts, a decision was made to shift the focus entirely towards cleaning oil ingress in the mangrove areas.

The Forest Department plans to engage local fishermen through CPCL resources to undertake oil cleaning work in mangroves, utilizing smaller boats, oil boomers, and soak pads as part of the Ennore Mangroves restoration project.

The oil slick’s impact was significant, affecting nearby fishing villages. Oil-mixed water had entered homes, damaging personal belongings, and disrupting livelihoods as the oil-coated boats hampered their fishing activities.

The state’s Environment, Climate Change, and Forests Department established a technical team to investigate the oil spill’s cause and undertook measures to address the adverse impact on affected communities.

VoM News Desk

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