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MEPA steps up cleaning operations of washed up nurdles in northern coastal areas
View(s):By S. Rubatheesan
With high deposits of nurdles, a source material for plastic production, being washed onto the northern coastal region following a container ship sinking in the Indian Ocean, local authorities stepped up beach cleaning activities to remove them this week.
“As of now we are clearing the beaches in the northern coastal areas, which saw significant accumulation of plastic nurdles, particularly in the islands, with the help of tri-forces in the region,” A. Sasitharan, Marine Environment Officer attached to the regional office of Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) in Mannar, said. 
MEPA sought the assistance of the tri-forces and Coast Guard after noticing that locals were trying to remove those harmful materials on their own without any safety measures.
“We noticed that a significant number of plastic nurdles had washed over to the northern coast due to sea currents and wind patterns in recent days. We have informed relevant departments of the measures that have already been taken to remove these materials from the coast. However, we have not allowed the public to engage in clearing activities so far,” the local MEPA official said.
As a state entity tasked with marine protection, MEPA has started a coastal survey to identify the pattern and distribution rate of these plastic pellets.
The container Boxship- MSC Elsa 3, with a capacity of 1,730 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials and 12 containing calcium carbide, near the Indian coast.
The vessel succumbed to flooding in its cargo holds, capsizing and sinking off the coast on May 25. Numerous containers fell into the sea due to the ship’s tilt.
Due to the wind pattern and water currents, plastic nurdles began to wash ashore in Sri Lanka’s northern coastal regions.
High deposits of nurdles have accumulated in Mannar Bay and the northern islands of Delft, Nainathivu, Punguduthivu, and Chaaty areas.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has ordered the detention of another MSC ship to ensure that the market-leading container line can pay compensation, Indian media reported.
A. E. Sylvester George, president of Mannar Fisheries, told the Sunday Times that the recent accumulation of large deposits of plastic pellets is posing an existential threat to the marine resources of Mannar Bay. He said he has seen a massive accumulation of pellets in selected areas in the Pallimunai and South Bar regions.
“We are finding it difficult to sell fish to locals since there is a widespread belief that harvested fish varieties are not suitable for human consumption, as big fish banks swallow these pellets. It has become a livelihood challenge for us,” said George, adding that social media platforms played a crucial role in peddling misleading narratives on the issue.
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