May 01, 2026
- To curb the menace of tar balls and safeguard marine biodiversity, the Indian government has introduced draft rules to address tar ball pollution.
- Tar balls are hardened lumps of weathered oil, usually formed after oil spills, ship accidents involving oil cargo or other petroleum-related activities.
- These tar balls wash ashore, polluting beaches and harming marine life.
- The proposed rules outline the responsibilities of the Defence Ministry, other ministries, state governments and officials for reporting, managing, removing and treating tar balls.
- They also propose penalties for facilities and entities responsible for causing such pollution.
