[Resolved]  MPCB — Regular oil spills off Mumbai harbor

Address: Raigad, Maharashtra

We, the residents of Kihim-Alibag,Raigad,Maharashtra welcome you as our new Minister of Environment and Forests
The most recent oil spill from the sunken ship RAK (visible at all beaches of Alibag, Mumbai and unto Gorai) has once again highlighted the issue of oil spills occurring regularly. These have been referred to in Awaaz Foundation’s letter to you dated 11th August 2011 and to Shri Jairam Ramesh and the State Government of Maharashtra dated 20th August and 14th September 2010. The letters also contain pictures at regular intervals from 2001.
Your official statement indicates that there is a known factor of ‘localized phenomenon’ in recent years, and we are suffering from these phenomenon, which is affecting our health, livelihood and quality of life.
India is signatory to the international convention ‘MARPOL’ which imposes certain responsibilities to control oil spills. In most developed countries (of which we aspire to be one), there is a well-established protocol to ensure prevention, and to deal with accidents, including extremely severe penal and criminal liabilities.
Last year, after the collision of two ships, which leaked a large quantity of oil and damaged swathes of mangroves, we were assured that long term systems would be put into place to prevent and manage future spills. Apparently, no such system is available as confirmed by your statement that you would be focusing on the immediate problem and look at systems later. Even more disturbingly, the concerned agencies including the Environment Ministry does not appear to be sure of the source of spills at individual beaches and are relying on analysis reports to confirm this. Apparently, these have not been routinely tracked from source, indicating lapses in environmental security of our coastline.
We once again request a full investigation into the cumulative effect of regular oil spills off the Mumbai coast. I request that this issue be accorded utmost priority and necessary protocols in accordance with our responsibilities under MARPOL and other laws be put into place immediately.
Thank you and with regards.
Yours sincerely,
Aniket thakur