After MV Chitra and MV Khalija III collided, the resultant oil spill has had the most harmful effect on mangroves in Colaba and Vashi. An interim report on the study of the impact of the oil spill on mangroves in Mumbai and along the Raigad coast has revealed this fact. Moreover, there is no hope for the regeneration of mangroves from
seeds this season due to damage caused by the oil damage, claimed the report that has been prepared by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
“In all, nine sites were surveyed for damage to mangroves due to the oil spill. The result was that 1,273.24 hectares of mangrove area in total were affected,” said deputy-director, conservation, BNHS, Deepak Apte.
Mr Apte said that the worst affected mangrove patches were in Colaba and Vashi.
Of the two, Vashi is worse off, said the report, as the mangroves in Colaba are scattered and there are rocky patches in the area where they cannot grow. On the contrary, in Vashi, there is thick foliage of mangroves without any patches of rock.