Centre proposes first-ever Tar-balls Management Rules 2026 under polluter pays principle

Key facts

• The Union government has for the first time proposed dedicated Tar-balls Management Rules 2026 to manage weathered oil residue polluting India’s western coast.
• Tar balls are sticky lumps formed by weathering of oil from leaks, spills, effluents and marine accidents and contain toxic contaminants like heavy metals and persistent-organic pollutants.
• The Rules assign responsibilities for generation, collection, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of tar balls, including repurposing as fuel in cement production.
• Oil facilities—defined as entities that own, control or operate ships, vessels and facilities handling crude or fuel oil—must pay environmental compensation under the polluter pays principle for any oil spill causing damage.
• State governments are to declare coastal tar ball pollution as a state disaster and act under the Disaster Management Act.
• A steering committee with members from seven ministries and pollution control boards will advise coastal states and Union Territories on implementation.
• Tar balls with calorific value above 1,500 kilo-calories can be used as fuel in cement industries after authorisation from the concerned state pollution control board.