Nurdle spill from sunken ship hits Dhanushkodi flamingo sanctuary
Ramanathapuram: The plastic nurdle spill from the sunken container ship MSC ELSA 3 has now reached the newly declared Dhanushkodi greater flamingo sanctuary. This has triggered alarm among conservationists and local authorities over the threat posed to sensitive coastal ecosystems.
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The Liberian-flagged cargo vessel sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago, spilling large quantities of plastic pellets (nurdles) that travelled across the Arabian Sea and into the Bay of Bengal. Initial traces were spotted along Kanyakumari's coast late last month. Now, about 80 bags — estimated to weigh around two tonnes — have washed up at key locations in Ramanathapuram district, including Dhanushkodi's old church ruins, Irattaithalai, and Mugandharayan chathiram.
Speaking to TOI, district collector Simrajeet Singh confirmed the launch of a full-scale beach clean-up operation and said, "The recovered bags are being secured and kept at a safe place. Other beach clean-up activity is ongoing as per the SOP issued by the govt. Sanitary workers from Rameswaram and nearby local bodies are engaged, along with Aapda Mithras, and an all-out effort to clean the coast is underway. The impact on the ecosystem — both short-term and long-term — is also being studied by an expert agency engaged by the govt.
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Forest officials and environmental teams are on high alert as the sanctuary lies within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. It is home to 128 species of birds, including greater and lesser flamingos, and supports a variety of marine life such as sea turtles, molluscs, crustaceans, and fish. The region's fragile sand dunes, salt marshes, and seagrass beds also lie along the Central Asian Flyway, used by thousands of migratory birds annually.
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