NEW DELHI, Dec 13: India has geared up its anti-pollution machinery off Sunderbans near Bangladesh after an oil tanker, carrying 350 tonnes of furnace oil, collided with another tanker, resulting in a major oil spill situation. The Indian Coast Guard has mounted air surveillance and deployed a hovercraft in the creek areas and shallow water area, a Defence Ministry statement said today. Additionally, an offshore patrol vessel of the Coast Guard in oil spill response configuration is being positioned in the area for immediate response. The Indian Coast Guard is also kept on standby for providing any advice and assistance to Bangladesh for oil spill response.
The oil spill has reportedly spread over 80 km in the Sunderbans and Bangladesh Navy was trying to check it by using locally available resources.
“Considering that the rivers on the Bangladesh side are contiguous with those in India, we are taking no chance, although prevailing sea currents are unlikely to carry the spill into the India side of the Sunderbans,” the statement said. The accident occurred in dense fog conditions on December 10 when an empty oil tanker collided with the oil tanker Southern Star 7 which was anchored in Sela river. The Southern Star was on way from Khulna to Gopalganj.
The collision resulted in sinking of forward portion of the tanker that caused an oil spill. The stricken tanker has been salvaged and towed ashore.
(AGENCIES)
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