9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-IX)

27.11.2023

9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-IX) , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

Why in the news?

The 9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-IX) was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard at Vadinar (Gulf of Kutch), Gujarat on 25 November 2023.

Important points:

• DG Rakesh Pal, Director General, Indian Coast Guard and Chairman, NOSDCP reviewed the preparedness of all agencies during the exercise.
• Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated the 9th edition of National Level Pollution Response Exercise-IX (NATPOLREX-IX) off the Vadinar coast, in line with the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP).

9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise:

• This two-day exercise was conducted on 24 and 25 November.
• The exercise was participated by representatives of various ministries and departments of the Central and Coastal State Governments, ports, oil management agencies and other stakeholders.
• Over 31 foreign observers and 80 delegates participated in the exercise.
• Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated the 9th edition of National Level Pollution Response Exercise-IX (NATPOLREX-IX) off the Vadinar coast, in line with the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP).
• According to the Coast Guard official, the exercise is an important initiative that tests various aspects of the marine pollution response mechanism and assesses the preparedness of the resource agencies to deal with any marine spill contingencies.

Other exercises by Indian Coast Guard:

Sagar Kavach (Coastal Security Exercise):

• Indian Coast Guard recently conducted a three-day coastal security exercise, Sagar Kavach, from 21 to 23 November 2023 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to assess the preparedness and response mechanisms of all parties interested in coastal security mechanisms .
• ‘Sagar Kavach’ is a biennial coastal security exercise jointly conducted by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Coastal Police.

About Indian Coast Guard:

• The Coast Guard in India was created on 1 February 1977 as a new service to enforce national laws and ensure safety of life and property within the national jurisdiction of India at sea.
• The headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard is located in New Delhi.
• The Indian Coast Guard acts as the central coordination authority for oil spill response in Indian waters.
• The Indian Coast Guard is the principal agency to enforce the provisions of all national acts in force in the maritime areas of India.
• The Indian Coast Guard took over the responsibilities for protecting the marine environment in the maritime areas of India on 07 March 1986, when these responsibilities were transferred from the Ministry of Shipping.
• Subsequently, the Coast Guard created the NOSDCP to respond to oil spill disasters at sea.
• Which was approved by the Committee of Secretaries in 1993.
• Apart from preparing NOSDCP, the Coast Guard has set up four Pollution Response Centers at Mumbai, Chennai, Port Blair and Vadinar.

Background:

• India's Maritime Zones Act was passed on 25 August 1976.
• Under this Act, India claimed 2.01 lakh square kilometers of marine area, in which India would have the exclusive right to explore and exploit both living and non-living resources in the sea.
• After this, the Cabinet decided to form an interim Coast Guard organization with effect from 01 February 1977.
• The Indian Coast Guard was formally inaugurated by the Parliament of India under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent armed force of the Union on 18 August 1978.

Regional Headquarters of Indian Coast Guard:

The regional headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard is divided into five areas:

• Western Region - Regional Headquarters: Mumbai
• Eastern Region - Regional Headquarters: Chennai
• North Eastern Region - Regional Headquarters: Kolkata
• Andaman and Nicobar Region - Regional Headquarters: Port Blair
• North Western Region - Regional Headquarters: Gandhinagar, (Gujarat)

Duties and Tasks:

• To ensure the safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore installations and other structures in marine areas.
• To protect the fishermen and help them in times of distress at sea.
• To protect and preserve our marine environment, including the prevention and control of marine pollution.
• To assist Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.
• To enforce Indian Maritime Acts.

To take necessary measures to ensure safety of life and property at sea.