Mangaluru: Locals in Mangaluru claimed that a minor oil spill from a foreign ship, the MB Princess Miral merchant ship, which sank on June 23 off Battapadi Beach near Uchila while carrying 8,000 tonnes of steel coils from China to Lebanon, was responsible for some people’s health problems.
Locals are concerned because of the foul smell of oil spills in the coastal area over the past three days. The water bodies have been contaminated due to an accumulation of oil in the sea and well water.
It is said that a few residents have been suffering from Diarrhea. Four to five people are suffering from minor health issues.
Fishing has been banned at Ullal beach and they are also worried as they can’t go fishing. The oil spill also pose a threat to the aquatic species in the sea of this region.
Residents are not sure about why the ship came here or why the oil spill is not being cleared. They claim that the Coast Guard has not returned since Thursday. No one has come here to listen to their problems. “If there is more oil spill, there is more anxiety,” they said.
Residents claim that the oil floating in the sea is visible from the shore.
Following the oil spill, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has again launched surveillance around the foreign vessel. The ship and mini jet are being monitored again by aircraft and surveillance have been kept around the sunk ship by two smaller ships. Surveillance is again kept through mini jet flights.