Following a series of shipwrecks off its shores, which ignited serious concerns about the ecological impact of oil spills on marine life, the Kerala State government is initiating the development of a detailed oil spill crisis management plan. This strategic blueprint is designed to both prevent future spills and effectively mitigate their consequences.
The Ministry of Defence, which oversees maritime pollution incidents, has instructed Kerala to formalize this plan, drawing inspiration from a similar strategy recently adopted by a neighboring state. Kerala’s extensive coastline, spanning approximately 590 kilometers along the west coast and positioned near a vital international shipping route, inherently faces a high risk of oil spills. The upcoming Vizhinjam International Seaport, located just a short distance from a major global oil tanker lane connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, and the Far East, further amplifies this vulnerability.
To spearhead this critical initiative, an expert agency based in Bengaluru has been appointed. This agency will undertake a thorough assessment of Kerala’s coastal environment to formulate a comprehensive contingency plan, aligned with national standards. These plans will meticulously outline the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that various involved agencies must follow in the event of an oil spill, ensuring a coordinated and efficient response.
Under central directives, Kerala has already established a seven-member core group led by the Chief Secretary. This is in addition to dedicated oil spill crisis management groups operating at state, district, and local levels. However, previous iterations of these committees at the local and district tiers faced criticism from disaster management specialists for not sufficiently engaging local self-governing bodies. Currently, the State-level group comprises 26 members, district groups have 27 each, and local groups consist of 16 members.
The urgent need for such a plan was underscored by a recent shipwreck where state and central authorities had to delay the removal of bunker oil from the sunken Liberian-flagged container vessel, MSC Elsa-3, until after the southwest monsoon season concluded in May 2025.