Navhind Times

Panaji, June 3: The oil, which spilled from a merchant vessel off the Karwar coast in the wee hours of Tuesday, has reached Palolem beach in Canacona.

The state government has asked the South Goa district machinery to alert the residents and inform fishermen not to venture into the sea.

Chief Secretary J P Singh said that the Indian Coast Guard, which is the National Spill Control Authority has continued its work of spraying dispersants and has undertaken decanting operations to remove the oil from the other two tanks. Singh said the Coast Guard has requisitioned the services of two foreign experts in tackling the situation. He said that the team of the Goa Pollution Control Board (GPCB) had also been dispatched to help in the ongoing operation.

‘Ocean Seraya,’ Singapore-registered vessel, had hit the rocks on Monday night due to bad weather and heavy rains. Subsequently the spill was reported from the stranded ship.

Yesterday seven divers from Mumbai had inspected the ship. Singh said that the GPCB has experts to combat such oil spills.