Kerala shipwreck: NGT seeks Tamil Nadu government's report on plastic nurdle spill as debris reaches Dhanushkodi
The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Tamil Nadu government to file a report on the clean-up operation done after plastic nurdles from a cargo ship that sunk off the Kochi coast on May 25, reached as far as Dhanushkodi.
The NGT Principal Bench has already taken cognizance of the matter that involves the Liberia-flagged vessel MSC Elsa 3, which sank roughly 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi.
The ship was carrying more than 600 containers, including cargo filled with tiny plastic pellets known as nurdles. It was also carrying hazardous materials, such as calcium carbide and oil, which could affect the marine and coastal environment and the biodiversity and water quality of the area.
On Tuesday (June 10, 2025), the Bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, questioned State counsel about the steps taken in response. 'The nurdles have floated till Dhanushkodi. What actions have been taken so far,' Justice Sathyanarayana asked.
The Bench also took note of the June 9 internal container explosion on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship going from Colombo to Mumbai. The Bench expressed concern over the possibility of oil leakage and debris dispersal.
The State government has been directed to file a detailed response outlining the immediate measures taken to manage the nurdle spill and prevent further ecological damage.
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