18 Aug 2015 | 06:17am IST
GSPCB alerts agencies on possibility of oil drums hitting State’s coast
PANJIM: Following a notice from the Coast Guard (CG) the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has alerted all government agencies over the possibility of oil drums hitting the State’s coast.
PANJIM: Following a notice from the Coast Guard (CG) the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has alerted all government agencies over the possibility of oil drums hitting the State’s coast.
GSPCB chairman Jose Manuel Noronha, speaking to Herald, said that all State government agencies under the oil spill management plan have been informed of this possibility.
“There are 200 drums floating. They might have fallen off a ship passing the region. Authorities like the District Collectors, Panchayats, Health department, Captain of Ports and Fire and Emergency services have been also asked to be on the alert,” Noronha said.
On Sunday, CG had said that nearly 110 oil barrels were seen floating off the Maharashtra coast and alerted Goa, Karnataka and Kerala governments of the threat of a spill if the barrels break midway.
The iron drums of 200 litre capacity were initially seen floating off Maharashtra during sea surveillance near Kashid beach in the Konkan region.
CG’s PRO commandant Akshay Jain in a letter to the States said, “These drums were first sighted off Kashid beach and since then coastal and local police stations are reporting recovery of drums up to Vengurla (Maharashtra) coast.”
"Total 90 drums have been recovered till August 10. It is probable that the (remaining) drums may also land along Goa, Karnataka and Kerala coast,” the letter said.
It added that the drums contain hydrocarbon product (oil) which may be “harmful to humans”. “The origin and source of these floating drums are being ascertained,” it said, and requested that the concerned departments be sensitised.
