The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) convened the26 th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) meeting here on Tuesday chaired by Director General Paramesh Sivamani, Chairperson NOSDCP.
The meeting saw the participation of approximately 80 delegates from various ministries, central and state governments, ports, and oil handling agencies, Coast Guard said.
The gathering focused on reviewing the nation's preparedness to respond effectively to oil spill contingencies in Indian waters. As India is on track to become the world's third-largest economy, the volume of oil imports via shipping is also rising.
This increase, alongside the movement of chemicals and other hazardous materials, presents significant risks to India's maritime zones, extensive coastline, coastal populations, marine ecosystems, and tourism industries.
Ensuring robust preparedness among the Central Coordinating Agency, coastal states, ports, and other stakeholders is crucial for protecting our marine environment from potential oil spills.
