New Delhi, Aug 8 (ANI): Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanti Natrajan on Monday said there was no need to be alarmed about the oil spill off the Mumbai coast, adding that the situation was being monitored.
"I have reviewed the matter with officials of my ministry. At this point in time we do not see a cause for concern. We are constantly looking into the issue. As far as the facts are concerned, this is being dealt with by the Coast Guard," said Natrajan.
"I have also asked the local pollution control board to take samples. There may be some other reasons for the oil being in the water," she added.
Natrajan further said the coast guard has also sprayed aerosols to disperse the spill.
"Action is being taken every minute to keep the spill in check. We are constantly reviewing the situation and if any steps need to be taken by my ministry we will certainly do that," she added.
Cargo vessel MV Rak, which sank off Mumbai three days ago, is leaking oil and Coast Guard ships sprayed dispersants today to contain the oil spill, which has spread to about seven nautical miles around the ship.
"According to the Maharashtra Government, the spill on the Juhu coast is a localised phenomenon due to some other reasons and not due to the RAK spill. The RAK had about 290 tonnes of furnace oil and 50 tonnes of fuel oil apart from 60000 tonnes of coal and the incident happened at about 25 nautical miles away from the coast," said a Ministry of Environment and Forests press release.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has deputed teams to take water samples and to identify the oil content and the source. The ramifications of the ship Pavit being docked on Juhu beach since the last few days are also being examined.
The MPCB has started monitoring/sea water sampling since yesterday at Mumbai coastal areas such as Gateway of India, Dadar, Juhu, Versoa, Gorai, Mahul, and in Navi Mumbai areas.
The Coast Guard, being the designated national agency for management of oil spills, has stationed their oil pollution response vessel Samudra Prahari at the site to deal with pollution arising from the sunken vessel.
Coast Guard has launched Operation Suraksha 02/11 to prevent damage to the fragile marine environment along Maharashtra coast.
As reported by the Coast Guard, the oil slick is being neutralised by Samudra Prahari, using oil spill dispersant and the Coast Guard is also using helicopters to monitor the situation and for aerial spray of the dispersant to contain the oil spread.
The State Government has kept the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the district collectors in a state of readiness to clean up the shore in coordination with Coast Guard and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
The MPCB have requested National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to ascertain loss to marine life if any. (ANI)
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