From Daijiworld's special correspondent
Karwar, Jun 1: Despite aerial sorties spreading dispersants to kill the oil spill, the black oil managed to flow across to Karwar and Deobag coasts and is making its way further towards neighbouring Goa state.
Riding on the westerly waves, the spill, oozing from ship MV Ocean Seraya, which had hit the rocks off Karwar coast, Monday night, is flowing towards Goa, nearby state.
None of the authorities could quantify the spill as, according to them, around 650 tons of oil was present on board and they are unaware about how many tanks have ruptured.
The Indian Coast Guard, initiating one of its most difficult operations to contain oil spill, has commissioned a Chetak helicopter, a Dornier aircraft and a vessel for the operation. Fighting bad weather, the Coast Guard fighters are continuously spraying dispersants on the oil to disintegrate it. "The oil would be evaporated into air and whatever residue remains would be converted into tar balls," commander R M Sharma, deputy inspector general, Indian Coast Guard stated.
Both – chetak and dornier – are flying as low as 17 feet above the sea to spray the dispersant. "It's dangerous operation but our crew members are trained for it," claimed commandant Sharma.
Quoting reports from crew off karwar coast, commandant Sharma said that the spill has reached Goa-Karnataka coast. "It is yet to reach to the river which is bordering both the states," he added.
The Goa administration was busy throughout the day planning for the operation to tackle the situation, if the spill were to touch the Goan shores. "We have geared up our machinery to tackle the hazard. We have received information that it is moving towards Goa," Dr L U Joshi, chairman, Goa state pollution control board, stated before rushing for a meeting at its headquarters in Panaji.
Karwar district authorities confirmed that the westerly waves are forcing the spillage towards Goa. "The spill has already touched Majali coast, which is bordering Goa-Karnataka," top level officials stated.
The Goa meteorological department officials, too, confirmed that in the existing weather condition there is every possibility that the spill may flow towards Goa. "There are westerly waves and the situation would continue for next 24 hours," K V Singh, director, met department, stated.
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