GOVERNMENT SEEKS DETAILS OF “ROGUE” VESSELS: ALEIXO

Concerned over the possible effect on the tourism sector, the state authorities have swung into action to combat the situation arising after surfacing of tar balls on the beaches at Colva, Betalbatim and Velsao and have decided to deploy more workforce even as they described the situation as annual feature seen along the state’s coast over the last several years and that it was not alarming.

Tar Balls on the Beaches of Goa

Velsao beach on Tuesday saw an almost 13-cm layer of tar as the incoming tide brought in even more oil to the shore. A carcass of a dolphin was also washed ashore along with the tar balls.

The Environment Minister, Mr Aleixo Sequeira, the Tourism Minister, Mr Nilkant Halarnkar, the director of tourism, Mr Swapnil Naik, and Goa State Pollution Board chief, Mr Michael de Souza along with their respective teams visited the Colva, Sernabatim, Betalbatim and Velsao on Tuesday morning. According to information, Velsao was the worst hit with a 13-cm thick layer seen in some places.

Addressing a press conference after holding discussion with the officials of the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa State Pollution Control Board and others from the government, the Environment Minister, Mr Aleixo Sequeira told reporters at a hurriedly convened press conference that he found situation not disturbing when he visited the beaches and that the officials have told him that the situation is not due to oil slick.

Mr Sequeira further said that they have told him that the conditions could be attributed to weather conditions vis-à-vis monsoon, even as he said that the government do not rule out the possibility of some rogue vessels of having undertaken bilging of its oil tanks while passing along the state’s coast.

He further said that Dr S R Shetye, the director of National Institute of Oceanography, has assured all help to the government while the GSPCB has collected samples of tar balls which would be tested for hydrocarbons and their finger printing done in an attempt to identify the vessel from which they might have been discarded. The Environment Minister also said that the tar balls would also be tested at the NIO laboratories.

He further stated that the help of central authorities including Director General of Shipping, Mercantile Marine Department etc would be sought to find out details of ships or vessels that have plied or sailed through the Indian territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of India in order to identify if any of the vessels was involved in discarding "waste".

Stating that the tests could help the state authorities to identify the "rogue" vessel, he said that besides GD Shipping, records would be also be obtained from Indian Navy about movement of vessels during the past 72 hours to help identify if any of the vessels was involved. He said that if the vessels or ship was found then action would be taken as per the shipping convention.

Mr Sequeira also stated that anticipating such a situation given the occurrence over the last several years, he had discussed the issue with Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh on July 6 and sought his help following which the Union Minister directed the Central Pollution Control Board to conduct a study of the situation.

He went on to state that the MMD has sought the help of Indian Navy to study and suggest ways to tackle the issue of tar balls along the coast and that both the agencies have commenced their study and following receipt of their report, government would decide on the future course of action to find a long-term solution.

In the meanwhile, the Tourism Minister, Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar, who was also present during the press conference, has directed his department officials to ensure that all the tar balls were collected and properly disposed off with the help of contractors engaged in disposal of hazardous waste. Besides, the normal manpower of the contractors engaged in beach cleaning the tourism department would deploy additional manpower to collect the tar balls.

Asked to comment on the presence of Ms Valanka Alemao during his visit along with Mr Halarnkar and other government officials to the beaches, he said that it was Ms Alemao who brought the issue to his notice late on Monday following which he told her that he would visit the beaches on Tuesday to study the situation. She was accordingly present when he visited the beaches in the morning, he added.

Mr Sequeira, however, lamented that none of the sarpanchas or any other elected representative alerted him about the issue, even as he called upon the people to work with the government hand in hand to make Goa a better place to live. (NT)