Ennore Oil Spill Triggered by Cyclone Michaung

Context: Recently, massive oil spillage occurred due to flood water from cyclone Michaung from the state-run Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (CPCL) refinery in Chennai. 

• Cyclone Michaung is a tropical cyclone of the year over the Bay of Bengal.

Know more about Cyclone Michaung: Threat, Intensity, and Live Updates!

About Ennore Oil Spill

• Oil spillage from the premises of CPCL entered Buckingham Canal from guard ponds and storm-water drains reaching Ennore Creek.
  • Ennore Creek is a coastal backwater of the Kosasthalaiyar River, which is home to numerous fishing communities.

Location: Ennore Creek 

• Tar balls and thick layers of oil have been deposited along the coastline. A trail of oil deposits can also be seen on the shores and the fishing boats.
• Tarball is a dark-coloured piece of oil.
• Suo Moto Case by NGT: The National Green Tribunal(NGT)  took up the case suo moto demanded comprehensive reports from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) regarding oil spillage. 
• It directed the state to compensate for the loss of livelihood.

Impacts of Oil Spillage

• Health Impact: Residents in affected localities face unbearable odour, leading to respiratory issues among vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly, along with physical symptoms such as eye irritation, dizziness, and skin itching. 
• Impact on Livelihoods: It damaged fishing boats and equipment, severely impacting the livelihoods of the fishing community.
• Impact on Aquatic Life: Oil spill obstructs the passage of sunlight into the sea, thereby destroying the photosynthesizing phytoplankton and, as a result, other organisms such as fishes, water-dependent mangroves, and sea birds. 
  • The fish can become tainted as the oil will get absorbed by their skin.
• Rich Diversity of Birds: Many birds, including migratory and near-threatened birds such as the Spot-billed Pelican, Whiskered Tern, and Painted Stork, are present here.
  • Feathers from birds are waterproof because of the cuticle layer covering them. Oil and other hydrophobic chemicals dissolve that cuticle layer. As a result, a cormorant (a medium- to large-sized bird)  that comes into touch with oil drowns when it goes into water again.

Remedial Measures to Clean Up Oil Spills

• Bioremediation: It uses bacteria to clean up oil spills in the ocean through bioremediation.
• Spill Containment methods:  It includes oil boomers, skimmers and gully suckers, etc to remove the floating oil, which will be safely disposed of at the designated location for storing hazardous wastes.
• Oil Spill Dispersants (OSD):  They are sprayed over the affected area.

News Source: The Hindu