Although the oil started spilling since late evening on December 25, it was noticed only on December 26 morning when some fishermen from Mahul were going into the sea.
The oil spill in Mahul creek a couple of weeks ago has taken its toll. The city has lost a winged visitor. While the flamingo died on Tuesday, another bird is battling for life at the SPCA hospital, Parel.
Some fishermen from Sewri found the affected bird in the mudflats on Tuesday evening. They picked it up and informed Prashant Shinde of Shrushtidnyan, an NGO. “We immediately took the bird to SPCA hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that it had consumed contaminated food,” said Shinde.
The incident has directly been linked to the oil spill from BPCL in the creek on December 26, 2009. “The bird might have consumed food contaminated with oil. Over the past two weeks, marine life in the creek has been badly affected as the oil has spread over Mahul and Sewree,” said Shinde.
The doctors at the hospital are trying hard to save the bird. “It is suffering from congestion in the respiratory tract. Oil in the creek is the major reason for the ailment. The bird is still critical and we are trying to save it,” said Col (Retd) Dr JC Khanna, secretary, SPCA hospital.
Although the oil started spilling since late evening on December 25, it was noticed only on December 26 morning when some fishermen from Mahul were going into the sea. They were shocked to see the entire creek covered by oil.
The source of the oil spill was later traced to the nullah between Tata Power and BPCL. The waste oil from the refinery has killed marine life and contaminated blue green algae, the food for flamingos. “We will write to MoEF and NEERI for scientific analysis of the entire creek,” said Shinde.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}