Chennai: Coast Guard teams work round-the-clock to control slick with sucker machines
Chennai: A strong small of petrol fills the beachfront at Bharathiyar beach that lies beyond Kasimedu, a fishing hamlet, and as one plods towards the beach, a massive crowd on the rocks resembling that of one surrounding an accident spot is visible. A little further is a black, thick layer of oil covering the rocks and the sea, and a group of men in orange engaged in cleaning it.
On the rocks are bystanders watching the episode, some covering their noses not being able to stand the stench, and some clicking selfies with their families.
The impact of the oil spill from two ships, MT Dawn and MT Kanchipuram, that collided on Saturday morning is so severe that can be seen on the waterside even two days later.
“Look at that layer of oil mid-sea. It is not just here, it has been spread that far,” said a mechanic, Pandu Rangan, pointing far into the sea, where another broad layer of oil was spread. “The stench has been so strong that it is felt near my home,” said D. Bhanu, who lives near the beach.
As people from the neighbourhood, came with their families and clicked pictures of the oil spread far and wide, the corn-seller whose still has been set by the road was happy about earning quick bucks.
Boots laden in grease, tugging at a rope connected to a sucker machine was a team of 40-strong members of the Coast Guard, working since Sunday evening.
“We didn’t make much progress yesterday. Only today have we been able to separate the oil from the water. We will be working will 9 pm,” said a team member.
The thick layer of crude oil sticks to the rocks and spread across the water on a long stretch of the coastline, stretching to even the Marina Beach.
On Monday, people across the Marina were able to see a dark, thick layer of the crude oil on the water stretch. “Fishermen who went fishing last night were able to see the layer up to five miles from the coast. Today morning, on the Marina, it was appearing hardened but by afternoon it has melted and the quantity appeared less,” said K Bharathi, of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association, and a resident of Mylapore.
