Two months after Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) ordered Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) to shut a leaking oil pipeline that destroyed close to 30 acres of mangroves at Mahul, MbPT have gradually been allowed to fully restore operations of the pipeline that carries oil from the sea to the Chembur refineries.
While MbPT claim the leak is plugged, they continue to struggle with the clean-up operations, which environmentalists say is far from complete. Local fishermen too complain they are still affected, and the Forest Department's Mangrove Protection Cell fears the oil has spread from Mahul Creek to Trombay.
Though MPCB took a bank guarantee of Rs 1.5 crore from MbPT, the latter is yet to be penalised for destruction of mangroves.
After Mumbai Mirror reported (November 7, 2013) on how the pipeline leak destroyed acres of mangroves and was killing marine life, the Pollution Board ordered Port Trust to immediately shut operations, and followed it with a notice in December threatening prosecution. MbPT then appointed experts to clean up the oil and plug the leak.
In January, MbPT also appointed Engineers India Limited (EIL) to investigate the cause of the leak, and NEERI to do an environmental impact study. Two more agencies were contracted to manually clean up the sludge, including M/s Seacare Marine Services who was commissioned to clean a 2 km stretch on both sides of the pipeline.
Following a few trial runs, MPCB then initially allowed pipeline operations to resume for a fortnight. "We allowed them to use the pipeline for few days to check if the leak was plugged. As there was no fresh leak, we then granted permission on a monthly basis. We will check the status every month before renewing permission," an MPCB official said.
"The bank guarantee will not be returned unless they can assure us such a leak will not reoccur," said MPCB's Assistant Secretary (Technical) P K Mirashe.
While restoration of supply came as a relief to badly hit oil companies, local fishermen are not happy. "Usually, in winter, we make between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 a day. But this time, due to the oil spill, we couldn't go out to sea as the clean-up has been slow," said Suryakant Vaity, president, Vanewale Macchi Mandal. "No agency has been made accountable, but the authorities have virtually given the go-ahead to permanently resume operations."
Locals allege that MPCB has softened its stand, and are calling for stringent action. They want MPCB to go beyond filing reports and demand that the agency responsible be penalised. However, MPCB has not decided on prosecuting MbPT.
"Fisherfolk must be compensated for their loss. Due to the delay in clean-up, the oil has spread to Trombay. Had they acted in time, damage could have been controlled. Now, all mangroves around the creek are permanently destroyed and a thick layer of oil has settled on the sand and water," said local corporator Seema Mahulkar.
Since November, Mirror has regularly visited the site. On Saturday, a worker of Labour Cooperative Society, who have been appointed for clean-up operations, said, "We've removed hundreds of drums of oil sludge. But during high-tide garbage washes into the creek and sticks to the oil, making cleaning extremely difficult. At this pace, it'll take a few months."
Environmental experts, however, fear the mangroves are completely destroyed and said that during high-tide, mangroves as high as 5 feet are drenched in black furnace oil. Environmentalist Stalin D from the NGO Vanashakti said, "Considering the damage, strong action needs to be taken. MPCB should not have allowed use of the pipeline till the entire clean-up operation is over. There's no guarantee the leak has been permanently plugged. From day one, MbPT have been trying to downplay the incident."
Though a preliminary offence report was registered in November, Chief Conservator of Forests (Mangrove Cell) N Vasudevan said the inquiry officer is yet to submit a final report. "Once our detailed report is ready, we will take action. Oil penetrated the soil and has spread to parts of Trombay. Chemical treatment is needed to separate it from mud. We are monitoring the clean-up," Vasudevan said.
A fortnight ago, MbPT Chairman Rajeev Gupta said the clean-up was going on in full swing. "Expert agencies are appointed and the clean-up is being done as per MPCB's directives," Gupta had said.
On Saturday, P Mohanachandran, secretary, MbPT was not available for comment, but local Port Trust officials admitted the clean-up work was not progressing as expected. "In the current situation, this is all we could have done. We will ensure the creek is completely clean in the next few months," said an official who did not want to be named.
While MbPT claim the leak is plugged, they continue to struggle with the clean-up operations, which environmentalists say is far from complete. Local fishermen too complain they are still affected, and the Forest Department's Mangrove Protection Cell fears the oil has spread from Mahul Creek to Trombay.
Though MPCB took a bank guarantee of Rs 1.5 crore from MbPT, the latter is yet to be penalised for destruction of mangroves.
After Mumbai Mirror reported (November 7, 2013) on how the pipeline leak destroyed acres of mangroves and was killing marine life, the Pollution Board ordered Port Trust to immediately shut operations, and followed it with a notice in December threatening prosecution. MbPT then appointed experts to clean up the oil and plug the leak.
In January, MbPT also appointed Engineers India Limited (EIL) to investigate the cause of the leak, and NEERI to do an environmental impact study. Two more agencies were contracted to manually clean up the sludge, including M/s Seacare Marine Services who was commissioned to clean a 2 km stretch on both sides of the pipeline.
Following a few trial runs, MPCB then initially allowed pipeline operations to resume for a fortnight. "We allowed them to use the pipeline for few days to check if the leak was plugged. As there was no fresh leak, we then granted permission on a monthly basis. We will check the status every month before renewing permission," an MPCB official said.
"The bank guarantee will not be returned unless they can assure us such a leak will not reoccur," said MPCB's Assistant Secretary (Technical) P K Mirashe.
While restoration of supply came as a relief to badly hit oil companies, local fishermen are not happy. "Usually, in winter, we make between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 a day. But this time, due to the oil spill, we couldn't go out to sea as the clean-up has been slow," said Suryakant Vaity, president, Vanewale Macchi Mandal. "No agency has been made accountable, but the authorities have virtually given the go-ahead to permanently resume operations."
Locals allege that MPCB has softened its stand, and are calling for stringent action. They want MPCB to go beyond filing reports and demand that the agency responsible be penalised. However, MPCB has not decided on prosecuting MbPT.
"Fisherfolk must be compensated for their loss. Due to the delay in clean-up, the oil has spread to Trombay. Had they acted in time, damage could have been controlled. Now, all mangroves around the creek are permanently destroyed and a thick layer of oil has settled on the sand and water," said local corporator Seema Mahulkar.
Since November, Mirror has regularly visited the site. On Saturday, a worker of Labour Cooperative Society, who have been appointed for clean-up operations, said, "We've removed hundreds of drums of oil sludge. But during high-tide garbage washes into the creek and sticks to the oil, making cleaning extremely difficult. At this pace, it'll take a few months."
Environmental experts, however, fear the mangroves are completely destroyed and said that during high-tide, mangroves as high as 5 feet are drenched in black furnace oil. Environmentalist Stalin D from the NGO Vanashakti said, "Considering the damage, strong action needs to be taken. MPCB should not have allowed use of the pipeline till the entire clean-up operation is over. There's no guarantee the leak has been permanently plugged. From day one, MbPT have been trying to downplay the incident."
Though a preliminary offence report was registered in November, Chief Conservator of Forests (Mangrove Cell) N Vasudevan said the inquiry officer is yet to submit a final report. "Once our detailed report is ready, we will take action. Oil penetrated the soil and has spread to parts of Trombay. Chemical treatment is needed to separate it from mud. We are monitoring the clean-up," Vasudevan said.
A fortnight ago, MbPT Chairman Rajeev Gupta said the clean-up was going on in full swing. "Expert agencies are appointed and the clean-up is being done as per MPCB's directives," Gupta had said.
On Saturday, P Mohanachandran, secretary, MbPT was not available for comment, but local Port Trust officials admitted the clean-up work was not progressing as expected. "In the current situation, this is all we could have done. We will ensure the creek is completely clean in the next few months," said an official who did not want to be named.
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