Pin down tar ball source, govt to NIO, Coast Guards
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 31
With the tar balls invading the beaches across the State, the government has sought assistance from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard to identify the vessel, which may have possibly discharged oil in high seas.
Addressing a press conference, after a joint meeting with the Goa State Pollution Control Board and the NIO, Minister for Environment Alexio Sequeira disclosed that his ministry has sought details of the ship which may have crossed through the coastline in last 72 hours.
“I visited the beaches at Colva, Betalbatim and Velsao, along with Tourism Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, he said adding that this was a normal phenomenon during monsoons. It has been happening year after year every during monsoons,” he stated adding that “the situation is not as alarming as it has been reported in the print and electronic media.”
Nonetheless, he continued, “we have decided to take the matter seriously and studying possibility of some rogue vessel undertaking bulging of its oil tanks into the high seas off Goa.”
Sequeira said that in this regard we have sought assistance from the NIO which has assured full cooperation.
“The samples of the tar balls have been handed over to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the NIO, which will conduct tests in their laboratories. We have also asked them to finger print the hydrocarbons in the tar ball,” he said adding “this process can help us lay hands on the rogue vessel.”
The minister said that the government has also sought help from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard to seek details of the vessels which may have been crossed the Indian territorial waters as well as the Exclusive Economic Zone in the last 72 hours.
“This would be a long process and cannot be done immediately but if we are able to find the vessel, action would be initiated,” he said.
The minister said that he had taken up the issue of tar ball in July this year with the Union minister for environment, who had assured to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, Sequeira said, the tourism minister has directed his department to ensure that all the beaches are cleaned immediately so that it does not cause any problem to the visiting tourists.
“We have asked the GSPCB to speak to agencies involved in hazardous waste with regards to disposing off the tar balls,” Sequeira said adding “the Tourism Minister has also directed the department to seek assistance of additional manpower if need be.”
