Team Herald
VASCO: Taking cognizance of the media reports on tar balls washing ashore at Khariwado, a team of scientists from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Delhi, visited Khariwado beach on Saturday morning. The team inspected the site and collected samples of the oily material strewn all over the beach.
After inspecting the site, the scientists confirmed that the oily material was nothing but tar balls, but this time, the source may not be the Bombay High region (an oilfield off the coast of Mumbai). They added that they would conduct tests on the tar samples to find out the source.
“Usually, beaches are subjected to the menace of tar balls prior to monsoon as well as during the monsoons in a big way. The tar balls that have hit the Khariwado coast appears to be some burnt oil. Although it is premature to establish the source of tar balls, the tar may not be from the Bombay High region. As a port is located nearby, it may also be the case that a ship at anchorage has discharged oil in the sea. The same will be confirmed only after tests are done,” an NIO official told herald.
He added, “We found that these tar balls are small, but hard. Our team has collected samples and we will send the same for a ‘fingerprinting’ test to find out the source. The details of the report will be furnished in a few weeks.”
