National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) to pay ₹5 crore as a 'no-fault liability' for the oil spill off the Nagapattinam coast, in March 2023.
- No-fault liability (or Strict liability) doctrine was invoked as the pipeline leak was caused by an external force and not by any negligence or error from CPCL.
Oil Spill
- Definition: An oil spill, a form of pollution, is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity.
- Causes: Often caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, etc.
Impact on marine ecosystem
- Loss of biodiversity: Due to loss of habitat, blocking of sunlight, etc.
- For example, tar balls which are remnants of oil spills can disturb the habitat of turtles.
- Damage Food Chain: Predators that consume contaminated prey can be exposed to oil through ingestion.
- Coastal erosion: Due to damage to vegetation on the coastline.
Technologies to tackle oil spills
- Biological: Oilzapper (contains bacteria feeding on oil), Oilivorous-S (similar to Oilzapper but more effective against oil with high sulphur content).
- Floating booms: Temporary floating barriers to contain marine spills.
- Different sorbents like straw, volcanic ash etc.
Initiatives to tackle Marine Oil Spills | National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (1996): The Indian Coast Guard is the nodal agency for the Plan |
|---|---|
| International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (2001): India ratified the convention in 2015 | |
| International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships or MARPOL (India is a signatory) | |
| International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Cooperation (OPRC) 1990 (India is a signatory) |