Environmental outfit fears water pollution from oil spill

Environmental outfit fears water pollution from oil spill
Monday June 19 2006 11:51 IST

SIRSI: Owing to the oil slick from a privately owned ship, �MV Ocean Sereya�, which hit an offshore rock at the Devagadh lighthouse in Karwar, near here recently, the Vrukshalaksha Andolan, an environmental organisation, suspects severe water pollution and has urged for a detailed study by concerned experts.

Speaking to reporters at Karwar, Ananth Hegde of the organisation, said apart from the oil slick, other dangerous components like lead, mercury, tin and other chemicals, might cause water pollution.

The organisation urged for a detailed study by the Goa National Institute of Oceanography and said the district administration, Department of Port and Ships and the Coast Guard, should take the necessary steps to prevent such mishaps in future.

Dc admits leakage: It was possible to remove 226 tonnes of oil from the ill-fated �M V Ocean Sereya� ship and the remaining 430 tonnes of oil were already spilt, said Deputy Commissioner of Uttar Kannada district, Reeteshkumar Singh.

Speaking to reporters recently, he said a detailed study on the leakage and its effect, had been carried out and in the last 12 days, underwater experts, ship salvage party and other parties, had succeeded in removing oil from the tankers. Efforts to take out the dilapidated ship from the sea would be initiated only after the monsoon, he added.

Regarding the mishap, the director general of Water Transport, had demanded a bank guarantee of Rs 17.75 crore from the ship owner as compensation, he said, adding that, sufficient precautionary measures were taken to control water pollution.

The department of Fisheries had demanded Rs 20 lakh compensation from the ship owner and the district administration and the department of Port would also demand appropriate compensation from the shipping company, he added.
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