Nitin Gadkari inaugurates first Oil Spill Response Centre for Mumbai & JNPT Harbour

India’s first of its kind Tier-I Oil Spill Response Centre (OSRC) for Mumbai Port Trust (MBT), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and ONGC’s facilities at Nhava and Uran was inaugurated on 5 June 2015.
It was inaugurated by Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari to tackle pollution and oil spills in and around Mumbai.
Facts about Tier-I Oil Spill Response Centre (OSRC)

• OSRC is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment in operational readiness for combating Tier-I oil spill upto 700 tones.
• The objective behind setting up this centre is to develop appropriate and effective systems for the detection and reporting of spillage of oil in order to ensure adequate protection to the marine environment and public health.
• This centre will also ensure prompt and appropriate response technique to control, combat and prevent oil pollution and dispose recovered waste material in an environmental friendly manner.
• The OSRC is equipped with skilled and trained personnel and wireless communication facilities for immediately responding to any oil spill. It will monitor on 24/7 basis.
• It also includes various plans like Contingency Plan, Health Safety and Environment Plan.
• The facility is funded by Participating Oil Companies (POCs). While, MPT will take the responsibility for tendering and monitoring of Tier-I OSR facility.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2015