Crude oil spill may have reached Vasai

Spill not a major threat: Indian Coast Guard

The mysterious crude oil spill that has swept across South Gujarat may have reached Vasai in Maharashtra.

Although authorities at the Indian Coast Guard refused to divulge details about the source and extent of spillage, a senior official monitoring the situation said, "Traces of oil have been found at some places in South Gujarat but it is not a serious issue as we have already done a survey and checked the place through an aircraft. People are panicking because the sand has turned black in these areas."

When asked whether the spill has reached Vasai, he said, "In Vasai there is black sand and that is all that I can say."

About the extent of damage, the official said, "It has not reached 100 kms. In fact the spill would have reached 20 kms north of Daman."

However, according to MSH Sheikh, president of Brackish Water Research Centre the situation is alarming and poses a major threat to marine life.

"The oil spill has been found from Borsi Machivad village to Daman and we have received complaints from fishermen from all these areas. Spread over 100 sq km this oil spill poses a threat to marine life and ecosystem. The spill should be immediately cleared especially from Tithal Beach and Daman beach as they are important tourist destinations," said Sheikh.

Fishermen in Navsari district were the first to alert about the oil spillage when they noticed that a large number of fishes had died. The spillage might have come from a ship however the exact source is not yet known.

Even as officials brush aside concerns about the spillage, there is a rising disgruntlement among the fishermen community as the fishing activity has completely stopped in many areas of South Gujarat.

"We have got reports about the oil spill reaching Vasai however we are in the process of confirming it," said Sheikh who is also working for fish quality management and sustainable fisheries under Netfish Society of Marine Product Export Development Authority, Government of India.