‘Not enough time,samples to quantify oil spill damage’

“It is difficult to study 100 km of mangroves in a month and assess the damage caused. Also,quantifying the damage from a spill may take a long time as the effects may show after years,” said Dr Sanil Kumar,a scientist from NIO,Goa.

However,apart from reservations over the deadline,there were other issues at play. Experts at NIO,Mumbai said though they had collected samples from various sites in the city,they didn’t get an opportunity to collect samples from the deep sea,the actual site of the incident. “We were not provided a boat or other equipment to go and collect samples from the sea,where the oil had spread. Thus,we will not be able to comment with certainty about effects on marine life just with samples from the shore,” said an official. Owing to these reasons and limited staff,Mumbai had forwarded the proposal to its Goa branch. Though the MPCB has handed over their samples to the NIO,experts said that was limited evidence and not an accurate representation of all affected areas.

Experts at NEERI have recently taken up the project,but admit they are facing the same challenges. “We’ve told the state that we will attempt to finish the report in a month,but it is very difficult to mobilise resources and get the work done in such a short time,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar,director,NEERI. NIO and NEERI had conducted the same study for the oil spill last year and had largely faced the same problems.

However,even if the experts arrive at a figure,the fight for compensation will be a long one. “The owners of MSC Chitra have still not compensated the authorities as they are awaiting a consolidated report on the incident before taking action,” said Singh. To address this problem,as indicated by the CM in his letter to various ministries last week,the Centre needs to sign the Bunkers Convention,which calls for prompt and adequate compensation in such cases.

Experts feel that these issues can be sorted out by having a protocol in place so that within 24 hours of such an incident,all the agencies concerned can meet and discuss a strategy to deal with it together. “There have been two oil spill incidents in the last year,but this basic mechanism is still missing,” said S N Gajbhiye,scientist in-charge,NIO.

Operation to plug source of leakage terminated

The directorate General of Shipping has terminated the operation to plug the source of leakage from sunken vessel MV Rak Carrier by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation divers.

Sources said the leakage from the vessel had reduced substantially. “We had written to the DG apprising them of the four-day operation. In view of bad weather and other considerations,they informed us they wouldn’t be needing our diving expertise further and thanked us for the same,” said AK Jain,executive director,chief offshore logistics,ONGC.

Last week,ONGC had asked for a Sonar mapping of the vessel to know about its profile,after three attempts to identify the source of the leak failed. However,the DG said the mapping could not be done immediately,especially since the leakage from the vessel had reduced considerably.

Meanwhile,the oil spill seemed to have reduced further with oil spreading only up to one nautical mile. The Coast Guard said that the containment operation is still in place and would continue till oil,however small in quantity,is leaking from the vessel.