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Oil chokes Chennai's wildlife; where are the Marina protesters?

  • The oil spill has polluted many beaches located in about 25 km area. 
  • Mopping operation is underway.
  • Will this natural calamity make headlines? 
oil spill spreads in chennai reaches marina

 

What was initially supposed to be a minor collision between a tanker carrying petrol/lube oil and a vessel carrying LPG at the Kamarajar port in Ennore is turning out to be one of the biggest environmental threats faced by Tamil Nadu in recent years. The oil spilt due to the collision is fast spreading along the shoreline of Tamil Nadu and is posing a serious threat to marine life.

 

Two days after the accident, dead turtles and fishes covered in oil have been washed ashore on various beaches in Tamil Nadu. The port authorities earlier denied any serious impact on sea ecology due to the collision, but clearly, the authorities were wrong.

 

Read MORE: Chennai's latest oil spill disaster the result of human error?

 

Popular beaches, including Marina - the symbol of Tamilian pride and the battleground to protect Jallikattu - is also seeing a thick layer of oil that not only threatening marine life but also impacting the fishermen community. According to a report, about 25 kilometres covering multiple beaches has been already polluted by the oil spill.

 

The question is where are the youngsters who protested in Marina for the lifting the ban on Jallikattu? Those who refused to vacate the beach even after the ordinance came into force? Who kept on demanding a permanent solution for hosting the bullfighting sport?

 

oil spill spreads in chennai reaches marinaAquaculture is in danger, local livelihood is at stake, and marine life is already brutally affected, isn’t this enough to come out to volunteer and help the mopping operations?

 

Read MORE: Oil spill: Can Chennai stand up for real issues now?

 

Nobody can estimate the spread of the oil spill and how much it can damage the third largest coastal state of India. It has been three days since collision and two days since rapid spread of the oil, but nobody seems to care about the natural calamity that impacts one and all.

 

Marina stands alone today facing grave danger posed by about 200 litres of the oil spill. Who will take up this cause of fighting for the ecosystem and environment? Will the polluted Tamil Nadu beaches become a symbol of human nature that fights for convenience and not for what matters? 

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