Paradip, Sept 22: The worst fear, it seems, is coming true. A team of experts from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board on Tuesday confirmed oil spill from the vessel that sunk off Paradip coast about a fortnight back.
“We found visible presence of oil, that spilled that out of the vessel, along the sea waters,” said SPCB scientist D.K.Behera. He, however, refused to elaborate further.
The suspected oil spill from the wreckage of the sunken Mongolian ship - MV Black Rose - has triggered apprehension of a major ecological and environmental damage along Odisha's Paradip coastline.
Even though Paradip Port Trust officials allayed fears of oil spill, the ground realities tell altogether a different story.
Pungent smell has filled the airs along the 12 km stretch long beach near Paradip. Bloated marine species mainly fishes are sporadically scattered along the beach. Layers of oily substances have made ingress into the sandy beach, according to eye witnesses.
“Fishes are beginning to die. Thick oily layers are spread along the vast expanse of sea. Anybody could find visible presence of oil substances. No matter what the officials say, oil has spilled into the sea waters,” a group of marine fishermen said.
“Of the 924 metric tonnes of oil reserve, 900 metric tonnes are inside double bottom tank and are fully secured. The said reserve is safe and intact. The minor spill is being traced to the 24 metric tonnes of grease oil stored inside the engine room,” said Deputy Chairman of PPT Biplab Kumar.
PPT Pollution Response Tugs and Coast Guard vessels which are monitoring the area regularly traced escape of little amount of grease and diesel from the sunken vessel today. On thorough inspection it has been ascertained that the spill is from the service tank of the engine room and is negligible which does not pose any threat. Apart from the above, there is no oil spill,” said PPT officials.
Incidentally, the ill-fated Mongolian vessel that had sunken on 9 September near the Paradip port had in it 924 MT furnace oil reserve.
Almost a fortnight after the vessel capsizal, the oil reserve is yet to be pumped out. This apart, the sunken vessel was carrying enormous load of 23, 847 tonnes of iron ore fines. The delay in oil extraction exercise is being attributed to gross absence of infrastructure and expertise on part of PPT.
Experts had earlier sounded caution on possible oil spill and its adverse impact on marine environment. The PPT authorities watched silently making little effort to evacuate the huge oil stock from the sunken vessel, alleged environment activists.
Meanwhile, the port authorities have sought the assistance of national and international experts for early evacuation of existing oil reserve in the sunken ship.
Incidentally, the sunken ship, owned by the Singapore-based Black Rose Maritime Shipping Ltd, did not have legal document or insurance papers.
A two-member team of experts from state pollution control board today made an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. The SPCB experts are of the view that oil spill has posed threat to the local marine ecology. Still its impact is not on a larger scale.
The site where the vessel capsized is very close to the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, one of the few remaining nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles in the world. The turtles come to the site every year around this month for breeding.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked the SPCB thoroughly inquire into the matter and take necessary measures in this regard.
The SPCB team had arrived in Paradip as per the orders of Patnaik.
The Chief Minister had asked SPCB to look into the matter after media reports about the oil spill.
Kalinga times
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