<p>India on Sunday rushed to help Mauritius to contain an oil spill off the south-eastern coast of the Indian Ocean nation.</p>.<p>An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft flew to Port Louis on Sunday with nearly 30 tonnes of technical equipment and materials on board to help the Mauritian Government contain the oil spill, which posed a serious threat to two protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park reserve in the island nation.</p>.<p>New Delhi also sent a 10-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team specialising in containing oil spills to extend necessary technical and operational assistance to the Mauritian Government agencies, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. </p>.<p>India sent to Mauritius specialized equipment, consisting of Ocean Booms, River Booms, Disc Skimmers, Heli Skimmers, Power packs, Blowers, Salvage barge and Oil absorbent Graphene pads and other accessories, specifically designed to contain the oil slick, skim oil from water, and assist in clean up and salvage operations, Anurag Srivastava, a spokesperson of the MEA, said.<br /><br />“India’s assistance (to Mauritius) is in line with its policy to extend humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to its neighbours in the Indian Ocean region, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region),” said Srivastava. “The urgent assistance reflects the close bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius and India’s abiding commitment to assist the people of Mauritius in need”.<br /><br />"New Delhi’s assistance to Port Louis follows recent support provided by India to Mauritius in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, including the supply of essential medicines, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines as well as a medical assistance team," said the MEA spokesperson.<br /><br />Mauritius Prime Minister Pravin Jugnauth declared a state of environmental emergency in his country in the wake of the oil spill. </p>.<p>The oil spill started after MV Wakashio, a ship owned by Nagashiki Shipping Company of Japan, rammed into a reef in the marine park off the South-East coast of Mauritius on July 25 while sailing from China to Brazil.</p>
<p>India on Sunday rushed to help Mauritius to contain an oil spill off the south-eastern coast of the Indian Ocean nation.</p>.<p>An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft flew to Port Louis on Sunday with nearly 30 tonnes of technical equipment and materials on board to help the Mauritian Government contain the oil spill, which posed a serious threat to two protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park reserve in the island nation.</p>.<p>New Delhi also sent a 10-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team specialising in containing oil spills to extend necessary technical and operational assistance to the Mauritian Government agencies, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. </p>.<p>India sent to Mauritius specialized equipment, consisting of Ocean Booms, River Booms, Disc Skimmers, Heli Skimmers, Power packs, Blowers, Salvage barge and Oil absorbent Graphene pads and other accessories, specifically designed to contain the oil slick, skim oil from water, and assist in clean up and salvage operations, Anurag Srivastava, a spokesperson of the MEA, said.<br /><br />“India’s assistance (to Mauritius) is in line with its policy to extend humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to its neighbours in the Indian Ocean region, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region),” said Srivastava. “The urgent assistance reflects the close bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius and India’s abiding commitment to assist the people of Mauritius in need”.<br /><br />"New Delhi’s assistance to Port Louis follows recent support provided by India to Mauritius in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, including the supply of essential medicines, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines as well as a medical assistance team," said the MEA spokesperson.<br /><br />Mauritius Prime Minister Pravin Jugnauth declared a state of environmental emergency in his country in the wake of the oil spill. </p>.<p>The oil spill started after MV Wakashio, a ship owned by Nagashiki Shipping Company of Japan, rammed into a reef in the marine park off the South-East coast of Mauritius on July 25 while sailing from China to Brazil.</p>
