Sri Vijaya Puram, April 8: The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Police Training Institute, Sri Vijaya Puram in association with the Indian Coast Guard, organized a one-and-a-half-day “Oil Spill Response Training” programme on 07/04/2026 and 08/04/2026 for tackling oil spill incidents, which pose a significant threat to the fragile marine ecosystem of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The programme was conducted under the supervision of Shri Uma Shankar, DANIPS, Principal, NSCBPTI, with the primary objective of strengthening the preparedness, coordination, and response capabilities of various stakeholder departments.
The training was delivered by experienced officers of the Indian Coast Guard, namely:
1. Commandant L.M. Gajbhiye, Officer-in-Charge, Pollution Response Team, A&N
2. Deputy Commandant Saibal Ghosh, Deputy Officer-in-Charge, PRT (A&N)
3. JCO Rahul Kumar, Subordinate Officer (Training), PRT (A&N)
4. Faculty from Andaman & Nicobar Pollution Control Committee
The course curriculum was comprehensive and covered key aspects such as introduction to oil spill response mechanisms, fate and behaviour of oil in marine environments, environmental and socio-economic impacts of oil spills, response strategies, shoreline clean-up techniques, and shoreline set-up procedures. Emphasis was also laid on inter-agency coordination, standard operating procedures, and the specific roles and responsibilities of different departments during such emergencies.
In addition, the training included detailed case studies of past oil spill incidents, providing practical insights into real-life challenges and best practices. Sessions on waste management highlighted the importance of safe handling, storage, and disposal of oil-contaminated materials in an environmentally sustainable manner.
To supplement theoretical knowledge with field exposure, participants were taken on a site visit to Corbyn’s Cove Beach, where practical demonstrations on shoreline assessment and clean-up techniques were conducted. The participants also visited the Pollution Response Team (PRT), A&N, to gain first-hand knowledge of the equipment, resources, and operational preparedness maintained by the Indian Coast Guard.
A total of 28 participants from various stakeholder departments—including Directorate of Disaster Management, Labour Department, Port Management Board, Forest Department, Industries Department, Transport Department, APWD, Revenue Department, Shipping Department, and officers from different units of A&N Police—actively participated in the training programme. The interactive sessions encouraged exchange of ideas and experiences, thereby fostering better coordination among departments.
The programme concluded on a successful note, significantly enhancing the knowledge, skills, and confidence of the participants. It also reinforced the importance of a coordinated and timely response in mitigating the adverse effects of oil spills, thereby contributing to the protection and preservation of the Islands’ unique marine environment.