Mangrove Restoration Work in Oil Spill Areas in Ennore Creek Started
Mangrove restoration work has commenced in the Ennore Creek area of Tamil Nadu following an oil spillage that occurred after floods caused by Cyclone Michaung. The spillage originated from the premises of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) and made its way into the Buckingham Canal, ultimately reaching Ennore Creek.
The state’s Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department announced that emergency oil recovery efforts in the Ennore Creek area were completed on Wednesday. Nearly 900 individuals, including trained sea cleaning agencies and local fishermen, worked together to clean up the area.
According to Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Forest, Mangrove restoration work in oil spill areas in Ennore Creek has begun. The area is divided into four zones. Low-speed seawater jet pipes will clean oil deposits which will be absorbed using soak pads, skimmers, and oil booms and safely disposed of. The slow and laborious process to clean about 60 hectares of mangroves but we will get there.
Sahu, who has been leading the teams on the ground, recently surveyed the affected areas alongside officers, CPCL representatives, cleaning agencies, and impacted fishing communities to oversee the completion of tasks.
Although most of the oil recovery and mitigation activities have been finalized, oil deposits in the mangroves require more time and specialized cleaning. After consulting with experts, it was decided to shift the focus towards addressing the oil ingress in the mangrove areas. The Forest Department plans to engage local fishermen through CPCL resources to undertake cleaning work in the mangroves using smaller boats equipped with oil booms and soak pads. This endeavor will be part of the Ennore Mangroves restoration project.
The oil spill near Ennore Creek caused significant distress to the people residing in nearby fishing villages. The mixture of oil and water entered their homes, damaging personal belongings and severely impacting their livelihoods. The fishing boats were also enveloped in oil, further exacerbating the crisis.
The oil spillage in Ennore Creek prompted the Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department to establish a technical team to determine the cause of the incident. Now, with the restoration work underway, the focus remains on recovering from the environmental damage and protecting the valuable mangrove ecosystem in the area.
Through collective efforts and the engagement of various stakeholders, it is hoped that the Ennore Creek will be restored to its former state, ensuring the preservation of its ecological balance and safeguarding the well-being of the surrounding communities.
