No written protocol for small oil leakages: Mangrove cell

“We don’t know which agency is responsible to act on the oil spill or who has to initiate action against the culprits. There should be more inter-departmental coordination in this regard. Also,we are not technically equipped to handle complex damage done to mangroves by oil leakages. There is no specific provision to protect the mangroves in areas susceptible to oil leaks in Sewri and Mahul. It is mainly damage control,” admitted N Vasudevan,chief conservator of forests,mangrove cell. “For major oil spills,the coast guard and the Navy step in,but we lack a clear laid down protocol to be followed during small oil leaks.”

Officials say the site is on government land and is a notified forest land. A first offence report had been registered,said Vasudevan.

The submarine pipeline carries crude oil to Bharat Petroleum Corporation,Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil refineries in the area from Butcher Island. The pipeline is covered with concrete and is not in direct contact with water,said a MbPT official.

“We are investigating how the oil oozed out. It should not have happened as the pipeline is only 11 years old. We have plugged the leak and are working with MPCB and BPCL to restore the mangrove ecosystem. Destruction of mangroves and water pollution in the area has been happening much before the leakage,” said MbPT secretary Mohanachandran.

Lack of manpower is another issue faced by the mangrove cell. The cell has 64 members responsible for around 8,660 hectares of notified forests across the state. “Constant patrolling is not possible. After complaints of oil sludge being dumped in Mahul over the past six months,our officers patrolled the area every night. Eventually,the dumping was stopped,” said Vasudevan.

Environmentalists and residents said such leakages had increased over the past two months. “The wetland has been contaminated due to leakages from the pipeline that supplies oil to refineries in the area,but no action has been taken against the MbPT,” said Stalin D,director,Vanshakti.

The MPCB maintained that complaints were looked into as soon as they are received. “We received a complaint letter from Mahul’s corporator on Wednesday. If the company is found guilty of violations,we will issue the direction to the concerned stakeholders today itself,” said

P K Mirashe,assistant secretary (Technical),MPCB.

Anjali Lukose

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com