August 10, 2010 1:53 PM

printer

No fresh oil spill reported, anti-pollution ops continue

No fresh oil spill was reported on Tuesday from the cargo ship which collided with another vessel off the Mumbai coast. Anti-pollution operations are still on to neutralise the oil effect. IG, Coast Guard of Western Region S P S Basra said in Mumbai that there was no fresh oil spill ever since the fuel stopped trickling out from one of the merchant vessel MSC Chitra. Mr. Basra said the anti-pollution operation team is spraying chemical dispersals wherever they are finding thick oil patches. He also added that there is no further tilting of the vessel. However, the traffic suspended at Mumbai harbour is yet to be restored. Meanwhile foreign experts have been called in to limit the damage of the oil spill. A team of experts from Singapore arrived in Mumbai on Monday to assist in the operations. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is meeting the coast guard officials in Mumbai today to review the situation and to discuss on the further course of action. A coast guard official had yesterday said that at least 31 containers with hazardous chemicals, including organo-phosphorous pesticides, sodium hydrochloride and pyrethroid pesticides are on board and quite a few of them might have tumbled into the sea and their contents leaked. More than 300 containers had hurled into the water. Meanwhile Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) authorities have been asked not to use sea water for cooling purposes at the premier atomic establishment. In an advisory issued last evening, the civic body also asked fishermen to avoid fishing in areas affected by the oil spill. It has also asked Mumbaikars to take adequate precautions while buying fish. Meanwhile, the coastal districts of Maharashtra have been put on alert as the oil slick has spread to Alibaug and Uran areas, and also close to Elephanta caves amid concerns that it may also damage the rich mangrove belt along the coastline.

Most Read
View All arrow-right

No posts found.