No fresh reports of oil leak off Mumbai coast

MUMBAI - The anti-pollution operations are still on here to neutralise the oil effect, as no fresh oil leak was reported on Tuesday following the collision of two cargo ships off the Mumbai coast.

“There was no fresh oil spill ever since the fuel stopped trickling out from one of the merchant vessel MSC Chitra. The anti-pollution operation team is spraying chemical dispersals wherever they are finding thick oil patches,” said SPS Basra, Coast Guard of Western Region.

“There is no further tilting of the vessel. However, the traffic suspended at Mumbai harbour is yet to be restored,” he added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has expressed concern over the issue and is expected to meet the coast guard officials today to review the situation and to discuss on the further course of action.

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation as well as State Departments in Raigad District have advised people not to consume fish for some time, as they might be contaminated due to the oil spill.

The coastal districts of Maharashtra have been put on alert as the oil slick has spread to Alibaug and Uran areas, and also close to Elephanta caves amid concerns that it may also damage the rich mangrove belt along the coastline.

Earlier on Monday, a team of experts from Singapore arrived here to limit the damage of the oil spill, as the Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel made frantic efforts to contain the leak.

The traffic at the harbour was partially suspended here on Monday as a precaution following the fall of around 200 oil containers from the MSC Chitra, an outbound merchant vessel from Navi Mumbai, after a collision with another vessel, the MV Khalijia-III on Saturday.

The Directorate General of Shipping has initiated an investigation into the incident. (ANI)