Oil spill from sunken ship MV Rak Carrier off the Mumbai coast has reduced to half a ton per hour, even as the cleanup operation gathered speed. The coast guard officials said that oil spill has reduced from 12 nautical miles to five nautical miles around the wreck site.A release issued by the Directorate General of shipping said that a close watch is being maintained on the affected site where the ship sank and the rate of oil spill has now reduced considerably. It further said that the coast guard, which conducted aerial recce yesterday, observed discoloration on Alibag Beach in adjacent Raigad district which according to them is a usual phenomenon during monsoon. Besides, tar ball deposits have been seen in the mouth of estuary close to Alibag, while 3 to 4 silvery patches were sighted near Dadar Beach and Bandra Bandstand sea-face in north-west Mumbai. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board said that no fresh oil deposits have been found at Juhu and Versova Beaches in north-west Mumbai.Three Coast Guard vessels Samudra Prahari, Sankalp, Amrit Kaur and a Dornier aircraft continue to maintain their presence at the site of the sunken ship to monitor the situation.Meanwhile, the Mumbai police have booked the owner and crew members of the sunken vessel MV Rak under the Environment Protection Act and Water Protection and Control of Pollution Act. Bharat Bhoite, Inspector at Yellow Gate police station said that the accused have been booked for causing water pollution and environmental problems due to oil spilling from the sunken vessel. The city police had already registered an FIR under IPC section 336 for endangering life or personal safety of others against the owner, captain and crew members of MV Rak on 5th of this month following the sinking of the vessel.