AUTHORITIES DISPEL ANY OIL SPILL THREAT FROM SUNKEN MONGOLIAN SHIP. (TAPE NO: 5228)

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

DURATION: 2.30

SOURCE: ANI

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NONE

Authorities dispel any oil spill threat from sunken Mongolian ship.

Paradeep Port Trust authority dismisses oil leakage from the Mongolian ship that sunk five kilometers off the port in Bay of Bengal.

SHOWS:

PARADEEP, ORISSA, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 21, 2009) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF THE HALF-SUNKEN SHIP FIVE KILOMETRES OFF THE PARADEEP PORT IN BAY OF BEGAL

2. TWO MEN STANDING ON A VESSEL

3. TWO BOATS

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON THE BEACH

5. OIL SPILL MARKS ON THE BEACH

6. VARIOUS OF DEAD FISH LYING ON THE BEACH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BIPLAB KUMAR, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, PARADEEP PORT TRUST, SAYING: "Sea water has not been polluted so far. There is no such indication there have been media reports of oil on the beach. We will have to look into it. There are other vessels, oil may have leaked from their engines or other material may have leaked from them in the past two days. We are looking into it. There should be oil layer floating near the sunken ship. We did not see that. So it can be from some other source as well. We routinely check for water pollution. So this is not a problem."

8. LONG OF THE PORT WITH ANCHORED SHIPS

STORY: Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) authority dismissed threat of oil seepage from the sinking Mongolian vessel, five kilometers off the port in the Bay of Bengal on Monday (September 21).

There have been reports of grease and oil spilling over to the beach and death of marine creatures but the authority attributes it to some other resources or vessels in the sea.

They said they are investigating into the matter.

"Sea water has not been polluted so far. There is no such indication there have been media reports of oil on the beach. We will have to look into it. There are other vessels, oil may have leaked from their engines or other material may have leaked from them in the past two days. We are looking into it. There should be oil layer floating near the sunken ship. We did not see that. So it can be from some other source as well. We routinely check for water pollution. So this is not a problem," Biplab Kumar, Deputy Chairman, Paradeep Port Trust.

Carrying 924 metric tonnes of furnace oil on board, 'Black Rose capsized on September 9.

Port authorities said they, along with coast guards and environment agencies, are on high alert to tackle any kind of pollution.

However, the spotting of grease on the beach may turn into environmental disaster threatening the rich bio-diversity in the area.

The region is home to the world's endangered Olive Riddle turtles and a large number of marine species.