Latest news with #KeralaStateDisasterManagementAuthority
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
36 coastal villages in Kanniyakumari affected by plastic pellets was ashore; clean-up drive underway
In Kanniyakumri district, a total of 36 coastal villages have so far reported the washing ashore of plastic pellets (nurdles) from the Liberian vessel that sank off the Kochi coast on May 24. Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena told reporters on Monday that out of 42 coastal villages, 36 among them stretching from Neerodi to Keezha Manakudi villages had reported to be affected with nurdles and other materials such as wooden logs and cashew nuts. The collector noted, 'The district administration had earlier conducted a meeting with representatives from around 15 fishing hamlets at Thengapattinam harbour to explain about the do's and don'ts related to the handling of debris.' She added that the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority had provided a Standard Operating Procedure for managing the situation, which includes surveys using drones, engaging individuals above 18 years for cleaning the nurdles using gloves, spade and other safety equipment. The collected nurdles were currently being safely stored at respective block and municipality offices. The collector further mentioned that arrangements were underway to transport the nurdles to nearby harbours located in Thengapattinam, Colachel and Chinna Muttam, depending on the proximity of the reported area. As this is an ongoing process, she emphasised that documentation plays a crucial role. Officials from fisheries, revenue, pollution control board and other related departments are involved in the operation. The collected nurdles would be handed over to the Customs Department, said Ms. Alagumeena.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala govt. forms multiple committees to handle shipwreck related issues
A day after declaring the MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck a State-specific disaster, the Kerala government has constituted multiple committees to handle associated matters, including engagement with MSC, owners of the container vessel. 'Engagement with MSC is immediately required for institutional arrangement to create the financial package for use by the State government for risk and damage assessment, management and remedial measures, including compensation,' the government noted in an order on Friday. This seven-member panel is chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Finance). The Member Secretary, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), will act as the single nodal point for contact with MSC, it said. The government has appointed the Special Secretary, Department of Environment, as the principal impact assessment officer. The officer will constitute and head a multi-disciplinary team which will look into impact assessment, restoration, and remediation across sectors. For mitigating the impact of 'potential coastal pollution,' the government has formed a two-tier institutional mechanism. The eight-member State-level panel is chaired by the Secretary, Science and Technology Department. 'The committee shall take measures to guide pollution-control activities at district level by way of policy orders, advisories, making resource available and to support the Environment department in undertaking assessment studies for restoration and remediation,' the government order said. The six-member district-level panels will be chaired by the District Collectors concerned. Further, the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology has been designated as Principal Advisor to the Environment Department. The officer, along with a KSDMA member, will advice the State Pollution Control Board and the district administrations in matters related to eco-restoration and combating environmental pollution. The government has declared the wreck of MSC ELSA-3 a State-specific disaster, 'considering the potentially serious environmental, social, and economic impact of the ship wreckage.' Meanwhile, the Directorate of Lighthouse and Lightships issued orders assigning a virtual AIS (Automatic Identification System) wreck marking for the wreck of MSC ELSA-3.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Kerala launches scientific response to coastal pollution after shipwreck
Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of the maritime disaster off the Thottappally coast, where a sunken ship's cargo of chemical containers and plastic pellets washed ashore, the state govt has swung into scientific action. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now District collectors across affected coastal regions are now under clear and rigorous directives, thanks to standard operating protocols issued by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. These guidelines draw from international best practices, including those of the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited, the American Public Health Association, and the Central Pollution Control Board. What is unfolding is not merely a clean-up operation but a data-driven, scientifically meticulous response designed to assess long-term ecological risks and ensure evidence-based decision-making. At the heart of the operation lies robust sample collection and preservation—a non-negotiable first step to understanding the extent of chemical infiltration in the sea, sand, and sediment. Authorities are focusing on two critical domains: water quality and soil or sediment contamination. Marine water samples are to be collected up to five kilometres from the shore and tested for parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, hydrocarbons, and total suspended solids. For beach sand and seabed sediment, the list becomes more troubling, as tests look for lead, mercury, cadmium, volatile organic compounds, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Sampling sites—ranging from intertidal zones to estuary mouths—are being geotagged, creating a spatial map of contamination that can be monitored over time. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Temperature-sensitive parameters like pH and dissolved gases must be analysed either on-site or immediately after collection. All samples must be preserved in ice boxes and transported under controlled conditions to prevent degradation. This level of scientific rigour extends to the shoreline, where a new kind of threat is emerging: plastic pellets, also known as nurdles. These are pre-production plastics used in manufacturing. Though they may seem innocuous, they are environmentally insidious. One of the ship's containers is believed to have carried large volumes of these pellets, and now, they are turning up across Kerala's beaches. Authorities have initiated both semi-quantitative and fully quantitative shoreline surveys—methodologies refined in the aftermath of the X-Press Pearl disaster in Sri Lanka. Pellets are being collected through two main techniques: hand-collection over a timed period and quadrat-based screening, where a defined square section of beach is sampled for density. At various tidal lines, the number and weight of pellets are measured to assign a pollution level—from very low (fewer than 25 pieces or 5 grams) to very high (more than 150 pieces or 30 grams). This process results in a Plastic Pollution Index for each beach, guiding clean-up priorities and helping determine which ecosystems might recover on their own. Complicating the response is the fact that not all plastics are the same. If these pellets absorbed toxic chemicals or were partially burned in the ship fire, they may have become hazardous waste. That distinction changes everything—from the level of personal protective equipment required to the regulations surrounding transportation and final disposal. Protocols recommend that characterisation studies be undertaken to determine the physical and chemical properties of the pellets. If uncertainty persists, authorities may deploy thermal fingerprinting technologies like pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to trace the pellets' source and assess whether they underwent chemical transformation after the incident. Any delay in classifying this material as hazardous could hinder clean-up operations, increase public health risks, and leave collected debris in bureaucratic limbo. Another key takeaway from the newly issued protocols is what's missing: baseline environmental data. Without a clear understanding of what pollution levels looked like before the spill, it's difficult to calculate the full extent of the damage. Experts are calling for routine monitoring of microplastics and toxic pollutants along Kerala's entire coastline to ensure future incidents can be measured against reliable benchmarks. "Imagine if we had a real-time pollution index, like the air quality meters we use in cities—but for the sea. That's the future we need to build toward," said a member of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. For now, while public attention may remain focused on the visible aspects of the disaster—workers in hazmat suits combing the sand—the real work is happening out of sight. In laboratories, data centres, and command rooms, a broader environmental response is taking shape. The aim is not just to return the beaches to their pre-disaster condition, but to set up a long-term framework that ensures the next spill won't become the next catastrophe.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala Government enlists volunteers to rid beaches of plastic detritus from capsized Liberian ship
The Kerala government has enlisted volunteers to remove piles of plastic granules washed ashore from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, MSC Elsa 3. The police will use drones to survey the State's beaches. They will work with the volunteer force, Fire and Rescue Department, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, Revenue, and LSGIs to mitigate the menace. The Government also decided to harness the expertise of KSDMA officials, environmentalists and officials from companies specialising in salvaging sunken container ships and cargo to help mitigate shipwreck-related risks, including oil spillage and the leak of hazardous chemicals. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated that the Government has prepared rapid response teams under the command of the State Pollution Control Board to remove oil slicks and other hazardous materials that are running ashore and posing a threat to fishermen and the marine environment. The government has ordered the immediate deployment of floating barriers to rein in and limit the oil spill spread from the shipwreck off the coast of Kochi.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Containers from capsized Liberian ship wash ashore on Thiruvananthapuram coast in Kerala
Several containers and cargo parcels from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, MSC Elsa 3, washed ashore at Anchuthengu, Ayiroor, Varkala, Muthalapozhy, Mampalli and Idava beaches in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala early Tuesday. The local administration has deployed police personnel to ensure that nobody tampers with the containers, which may contain hazardous chemicals or inflammable material. The Customs department had notified the government that the vessel stacked 643 transhipment containers on the main deck. The cargo hold contained 13 containers transporting calcium carbide. The hazardous chemical causes an exothermic reaction, producing highly flammable calcium hydroxide and acetylene gas when it reacts with water. The flotsam from the shipwreck also included blue-coloured parcels, possibly containing chemical dyes and other raw materials used in textile manufacturing. Member Secretary, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, KSDMA, Shekhar Kuriakose, had warned people to maintain a minimum distance of 200 m from the shipwreck detritus. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) has informed the government that more containers will likely run ashore along Kerala's coastline. The government stated that more containers were bobbing dangerously in the sea, buffeted by high waves and strong winds. The wreckage posed a dire threat to passing ships and smaller vessels, including trawlers and fishing boats. Hence, the government has banned fishing activities within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the shipwreck location. The ICG and maritime authorities have issued notices to mariners, advising them to exercise caution when navigating the floating debris field. The shipping company has contracted a private firm to assist authorities in corralling the floating containers and salvaging those stowed away in the submerged vessel's cargo hold. The container ship, which had set course for Kochi from Vizhinjam, foundered after encountering heavy weather 38 km southwest of its port of call early Sunday. A perilous combination of heavy seas, possible hull leakage, mechanical failure and perhaps unbalanced cargo reportedly caused the ship to list heavily before capsizing and sinking. The Coast Guard rescued the ship's crew, comprising up to 21 individuals from various nationalities, including Russia and the Philippines.
