Two cargo ships had collided off the Ennore coast in Chennai on January 28, 2017 causing oil spill into the sea. It is believed to have affected around 30-km stretch along the city coastline.
According to Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), at least 15 to 20 tonnes of oil had spilled into the sea due to the collision near Chennai's Kamarajar Port. The ships were loaded with Liquefied Petroleum Gas and petroleum oil lubricant.
By Tuesday, the oil slicks had spread till Thiruvanmiyur beach because of the waves and strong winds. The slick has now swept till Marina Beach and continues to move further ahead.
Although, Kamarajar Port Ltd along with federal Shipping Minister Pon Radhakrishnan have claimed that there was no damage to the environment but environmentalists and fishermen have a different story to tell.
The rapidly spreading oil spill has posed serious threats to the aquatic biodiversity along the coast. Around half a dozen of turtles are dead so far and several more species are likely to be affected due to the oil spill.
According to environmentalists, the oil spill will have an adverse effect over oxygen supply to aquatic species.
Though authorities have been trying their best to remove the spill as soon as possible but they have not been successful. The more that oil slicks spread, more difficult it would be to contain it. This is because the oil breaks up into smaller slicks which make it more difficult to be contained.
Environmentalists are afraid that the real ecological damage may not be seen at present, but the damage to eggs of fish and other species that live on and near the coast will be seen in span of next few months.
This has indirectly impacted the livelihoods of fishermen. Their business has already suffered a setback on account of rumours of dead or polluted fish.
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