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?
Oil pollution is the contamination of a water body, particularly the ocean, by crude or refined petroleum products, often due to accidental spills from tankers, offshore drilling rigs, or routine operational discharges.
Its impact on the marine ecosystem is catastrophic. The oil slick on the surface blocks sunlight, harming photosynthetic plankton which form the base of the marine food web. It coats the feathers of seabirds and the fur of marine mammals, destroying their insulation and buoyancy, leading to hypothermia and drowning. Fish and shellfish are poisoned, and toxic components of oil accumulate in the food chain. Coral reefs and mangroves, which are vital coastal habitats, can be smothered and killed.
For a country like India with a long coastline, a dense population, and a growing ‘Blue Economy’, oil pollution is particularly harmful. It threatens our rich marine biodiversity, including in the Gulf of Mannar and the Andaman Islands. It devastates the livelihoods of millions of fishers. Furthermore, our major maritime trade routes pass through the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, making us highly vulnerable to spills that could cripple our ports and coastal tourism industry.
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Important Questions from GS3
Examine the pattern and trend of public expenditure on social services in the post-reforms period in India. To what extent this has been in consonance with achieving the objective of inclusive growth?
What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of the RBI to control this type of inflation.
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What were the factors responsible for the successful implementation of land reforms in some parts of the country? Elaborate.
