TrivandrumLife>> District administration imposed a two-day restriction on fishing and tourist activities off the Veli, Vettucaud and Sanghmukham coast due to the oil spill from state-owned Travancore Titanium Limited.
Oil spill was alerted by fishermen in the wee hours of February 10. The glass furnace of the factory broke and the furnace oil reached the sea through a drain. Though the leak was rectified immediately after the alert, around 2000 litres of oil is suspected to have reached the sea.
District collector Navjyot Khosa, who inspected the affected beaches on Wednesday afternoon, said that situation was under control. Collector said that the state pollution control board will study the magnitude and consequences of the oil spill.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard Ship C-441 and Dornier aircraft conducted a surveillance at Veli coastal area. ICG ship C-441 is positioned at Veli area and monitoring the situation. The ICG is equipped with all logistics in case oil spill spreads to the sea due to tidal movements. As per the preliminary report of the coast guard, the oil hasn’t spread to the deep sea as it was not a time of high tide. However, there is oil spill in the area close to the shore and the beach area from Vettucaud to Veli. The district collector has directed to remove oil spilled sand from the beach area.
A team led by deputy collector (disaster management) G K Suresh Kumar conducted inspection at the factory. The factory has been directed to clear the oil accumulated in the drain.
