ONGC oil spill pollutes Valsad’s coastal areas (India)

October 12^th, 2013. SURAT : Environmentalists and pollution control officials have been on their toes ever since they recently saw huge quantity of oil particles and some dead dolphins, turtles and fish along the 100-km-long coast of Valsad district from Nargol to Umbergaon.

Meanwhile, the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) has issued a show cause notice to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for an oil spill from its pipeline installation, off the Uran coast near Mumbai. The oil spill from ONGC installation could have led to sea pollution at the coastal areas in Valsad district. The MoEF has also constituted a team headed by the member secretary of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) JS Kamyotra. The team will conduct an immediate site inspection and is expected to submit its report by October 14.

As per an official communique of the MoEF, the faulty pipelines at ONGC installation responsible for oil spill have been closed down immediately under section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Sources said villagers in the coastal areas were scared after the oil particles were detected floating in the sea water and also on the shores. Many had found dolphin, fish and other creatures like turtles dead along the coast.

“Oil spill has a dangerous effect on marine life. The dead marine creatures were washed ashore. We are lucky that the oil spill has been detected and notice issued to the ONGC,” an environmentalist said.

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