GIPE Project Tackles Marine Pollution Engine Oil Dumping In Ratnagiri
GIPE Project Tackles Marine Pollution Engine Oil Dumping In Ratnagiri
A pioneering project initiated by the Centre for Sustainable Development at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) is combating marine pollution caused by the dumping of used boat engine oil in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. The project, titled Oil Collection Environmental Action Network, aims to recycle used engine oil and prevent it from contaminating the ocean.
The project was conceived after GIPE was approached by Kirloskar Foundation, and it has already shown promising results. In the last two months, over 500 litres of used oil have been collected from fisherfolk, who are incentivized with Rs 20 per litre. The oil is then transported to licensed recyclers, who process and purify it for reuse.
The project’s significance lies in its potential to mitigate the devastating impact of marine pollution on the coastal ecosystem. According to a survey conducted by GIPE, between 32% and 55% of fishermen in Ratnagiri dump used oil into the ocean due to lack of storage facilities or awareness about its reuse.
With approximately 5,000 vessels in Ratnagiri and 19,000 in Maharashtra, the amount of used oil dumped into the ocean is staggering – estimated to be around 6 lakh litres. This project offers a sustainable solution to this problem, promoting a circular economy model that benefits both the environment and the local community.
GIPE plans to expand this project in collaboration with the state government and other stakeholders. As Dr. Gurudas Nulkar, Director of CSD, emphasized, “We need regulations regarding used oil dumping in the ocean. This solution is niche and applicable all over the coast. We will pitch it to other states and environment boards.”
The success of this project demonstrates the potential for community-driven initiatives to address pressing environmental issues. As Pooja Sathe, Research Assistant at CSD, noted, “Marine pollution is a big problem in Ratnagiri. This project will help keep the water clean and prevent one lakh litres of oil from being dumped in the ocean.”
