Mint Quick Edit | Toxic spill: Clean up first, invoke the law later
In the early hours of Sunday, a cargo ship capsized and sank off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, spelling trouble for a vast coastal stretch. Apart from over 84 tonnes of diesel and more than 367 tonnes of furnace oil, the Liberian-flagged vessel was carrying over 640 containers, many full of hazardous cargo.
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Alarmingly, a dozen had calcium carbide, which reacts with water to release acetylene, a highly flammable gas that puts marine life at harsh risks. The ship sank about 70km off Kochi’s coast, but flotsam has shown up on the shores of Kollam and Alappuzha.
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A significant oil spill has been confirmed by the Indian Coast Guard and clean-up equipment has been despatched aboard a special ship. Skimmers and oil dispersants are reportedly being used.
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The director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has warned that an oil slick could harm marine productivity, especially during the current breeding season, a crucial period for pelagic fish on which fisherfolk depend for livelihood. Fishing has been banned within a radius of about 37km from where the vessel went down.
Clearly, the ecological threat must be tackled first. How the law deals with any damages can come later.
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