The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) District Headquarters No 7, under the Coast Guard Region (North East), successfully conducted a Regional Level Pollution Response Exercise (Re-PREX-24) in Paradip from November 12 to 14, 2024. The exercise aimed to strengthen the preparedness and coordination among various stakeholders in responding to marine pollution incidents, particularly oil spills.
The three-day exercise involved a series of professional presentations, discussions, and a mock drill conducted onboard an ICG ship at sea off Paradip. The scenario-based drills provided critical insights into the effective strategies for handling oil spills along the region’s sensitive coastline, ensuring better response mechanisms to potential environmental threats.
The exercise saw the participation of key regional stakeholders, including Paradip Port Authority, Dharma Port, Gopalpur Port, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., and Odisha State Pollution Control Board. These organizations collaborated closely with ICG to simulate real-life situations and test their collective capabilities in pollution response.
The Indian Coast Guard continues to play a leading role in pollution response efforts across India. Through such exercises, the ICG ensures that all relevant stakeholders are trained and ready to respond to marine pollution emergencies, demonstrating its commitment to protecting the marine environment and ensuring the resilience of coastal communities.
This exercise was a significant step in bolstering regional cooperation and enhancing the overall response strategies for tackling marine pollution along the sensitive Odisha coast.(PR)