According to the State Governnment, 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. The 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. Lab analysis will ascertain the source of the oil, if any, on the beach. As of now, the oil content is about 1 to 2 mgs per litre which is negligible i.e. 1 to 2 parts per million. Any loss to marine life will be ascertained by the National Institute of Oceanography, who have been requested by the MPCB to assist them.
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 Juhu beach area has found some oil traces, the sea water samples collected and send to MPCB Laboratory. The Ministry has asked Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to immediately proceed to Mumbai and coordinate with the State Govenment, MPCB, DG (Shipping), NIO and other organisations in assessing the threat/damage to environment and to plan and implement immediate remediation measures. Read the full report here.
Source: Press Information Bureau, GOI, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi.
