What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (150 words)
Introduction: Oil pollution occurs when liquid petroleum hydrocarbons are released into the environment, particularly the marine ecosystem, due to human activities, causing harm to marine life and ecosystems.
Impacts on the Marine Ecosystem
- Loss of insulation and water repellency: Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals and the water repellency of birds’ feathers, leading to hypothermia and death.
- Inhalation and ingestion: Dolphins, whales, and birds can inhale or ingest oil, affecting their lungs, immune function, reproduction, and causing poisoning.
- Effects on fish and shellfish: Exposure to oil can cause reduced growth, enlarged livers, changes in heart and respiration rates, fin erosion, and reproduction impairment in fish. Fish eggs and larvae are particularly sensitive to oil impacts.
- Long-term impact on marine biota: Oil spills can have long-lasting effects on marine ecosystems, taking decades to recover.
- Coral reef damage: Toxic hydrocarbons from oil spills can bleach and kill coral reefs, causing long-term damage.
Oil Pollution Harmful for India
- Extensive coastline: India has a vast coastline, making it more vulnerable to oil spills and their impacts.
- Marine fisheries: Oil spills can affect marine fisheries, impacting the livelihoods of coastal communities.
- Threat to biodiversity: India’s rich marine biodiversity, including coral reefs and mangroves, is at risk from oil pollution.
- Economic impact: Oil spills can harm the fishing, shipping, and tourism industries, causing economic losses.
Conclusion: Oil pollution poses significant threats to the marine ecosystem and is particularly harmful for a country like India with an extensive coastline, diverse marine life, and industries dependent on marine resources. Preventive measures and effective response strategies are crucial to mitigate the impacts of oil pollution.
![Sunil is a young civil servant and has a reputation for his competence, integrity, dedication and relentlessness in pursuit of difficult and onerous jobs. Considering his profile, he was picked up by his bosses to handle a very challenging and sensitive assignment. He was posted in a tribal-dominated district notorious for illegal sand mining. Excavating sand from river belts and transporting it through trucks and selling them in the black market was rampant. This illegal sand mining mafia was operating with the support of local functionaries and tribal musclemen who in turn were bribing selected poor tribals and had kept the tribals under fear and intimidation. Sunil being a sharp and energetic officer immediately grasped the ground realities and the modus operandi followed by the mafia through their devious and dubious mechanism. On making inquiries, he gathered that some of their own office employees are in hand and glove with them and have developed close unholy nexus. Sunil initiated stringent action against them and started conducting raids on their illegal operations of the movement of trucks filled with sand. The mafia got rattled as not many officers in the past had taken such strong steps against the mafia. Some of the office employees who were allegedly close to the mafia informed them that the officer is determined to clean up the mafia’s illegal sand mining operations in that district and may cause them irreparable damage. The mafia turned hostile and launched a counter-offensive. The tribal musclemen and mafia started threatening him with dire consequences. His family (wife and old mother) were stalked and were under virtual surveillance and thus causing mental torture, agony and stress to all of them. The matter assumed serious proportions when a muscleman came to his office and threatened him to stop raids etc., otherwise, his fate will not be different than some of his predecessors (ten years back one officer was killed by the mafia) [2021]](https://www.iasexpress.net/wp-content/plugins/pt-content-views-pro/public/assets/images/lazy_image.png)
