Lok Sabha Question No. 2654 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Pollution in Oceans
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2654

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

## Pollution in Oceans

## 2654.   SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  existence  of  a  number  of  sea  creatures  has  become  endangered  due  to excessive levels of pollution in the oceans and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether 75 whales were found dead on a beach in Tamil Nadu on 11-12 January, 2016 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether extraction of gas and oil exacerbates the danger of oceanic pollution and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  scientists  have  expressed  apprehensions  that  the  effluents  being  dumped  by 50,000 factories into large rivers flow into the oceans and pollute the environment of the oceans; and
- (e) if so, the details of the steps being taken to check such pollution?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) As per the information received from National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai, there is no scientific evidence to attribute the marine organisms being endangered or extinct due to pollution. However, scientific studies claim that marine animals such as the  whales,  sharks  and  dolphins  are  threatened  due  to  over  exploitation.  The  report published  by  Zoological  Survey  of  India  2011  indicates  that  14  species  in  marine  realm which includes sharks, whales, sea cow, corals are endangered or vulnerable.
- (b) As per the information gathered from NCSCM on 11 th January 2016 around 81 pilot whales were washed up on the coast from Kallamozhi to Manapad , Tuticorin, East Coast of Tamil Nadu.
- (c) As  per  the  information  received  from  NCSCM  and  CPCB  there  is  no  information  with regard to oceanic pollution arising due to extraction of gas and oil exacerbates.
- (d) The  monitoring  of  marine  pollution  under  'Coastal  Ocean  Monitoring  and  Prediction System'  (COMAPS)  Programme  of  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES)  indicates  high levels of pollution at certain stretches along east and west coast which include, Tuticorin,
- Cuddalore, Pondicherry, Ennore mouth, Bhimavaram, Kakinada, Gangavaram, Visakhapatnam,  Paradip  &  Hooghly,  Hazira,  Bassein,  Versova,  Mahim,  Thane,  Mumbai harbour mouth, Mandovi, Zuari, Mangalore & Kochi.
- (e) The steps taken to check pollution in marine waters include enactment and implementation of  the  Coast  Guard  Act,  1978,  Merchant  Shipping  Act,  1958,  Water  (Prevention  and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Coastal Regulation Zone  Notification,  2011  and  Island  Protection  Zone  Notification,  2011.  Apart  from  the above, Indian Coast Guards have formulated National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan for  combating  oil  pollution  in  seas  and  implementation  of  the  COMAPS  programme  by MoES to monitor coastal waters.

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