As feared by ecologists, oil has started leaking from the MV Rak, the carrier that sank at the entrance of the Mumbai harbour on August 4. According to officials, the spill is taking place at a rate of 1.5 to two tonnes per hour.
“Since last night, the oil has been seen leaking from the sunken vessel. Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Prahari, which was patrolling the seas, immediately responded and used an oil spill dispersant to neutralise the spilled oil. Operation Paryavaran Suraksha-2/2011 has been launched by the Coast Guard,” said Captain Manohar Nambiar, chief public relations officer, defence, Mumbai.
According to Captain Nambiar, an aerial reconnaissance was conducted on Sunday morning, and an oil spread up to seven nautical miles was noticed from the sunken vessel. Thereafter, ICGS Sankalp Prahari too was pressed into action for damage control. In all, the Coast Guard used 600 litres of oil spill dispersants in their aerial sorties. The sunken ship is carrying 340 tonnes of oil (290 tonnes of furnace oil and 50 tonnes of diesel oil), apart from 60,054 tonnes of coal.
People on Juhu beach were surprised after noticing tar balls and patches of oil at the beach. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), directorate-general of shipping and state government later claimed that the spill may not be caused by MV Rak.
“The BMC has been directed to alert the shore clean-up team in coordination with the Coast Guard and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). On physical inspection, it has been revealed that there is furnace oil in the Juhu coast at specific locations. Lab analysis will ascertain the source of the oil. Any loss to marine life will be ascertained by the National Institute of Oceanography, as requested by the MPCB,” read a statement of state’s environment department.
The BMC informed that the oil pollution at Juhu beach is mainly confined to a stretch of 750 metres, which usually occurs during high tide.