Oil Spill in Bangladesh

The Spill from the Oil Tanker named OT Southern Star 7 Was Spread Over an Estimated 40 Square Kilometer Area

An oil tanker has collided with an empty cargo vessel in theBangladeshside of Sunderbans, spilling nearly 350 tonne of oil into the Sela river that runs through the world's largest Mangrove forest. Forest and security officials were on high alert on speculation the spill may cross over to the Indian side of the Sunderbans, home to Royal Bengal Tigers, Olive Ridley turtles, Ganges Dolphins and other aviflora and fauna. Sunderbansis also aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site and houses several migratory birds, including those from Siberia, and crocodiles. Environment activists warned of a massive ecological disaster resulting from the spill, particularly in Mechua and Baghamara in the southernmost parts of the Sunderban delta where individual rivers meet the sea. The spill from the oil tanker named OT Southern Star 7 was spread over an estimated 40 square Kilometer area. According to the West Bengal Forest Department, patrolling has been beefed up in the region, particularly the area bordering the Indian Suderbans, to assess whether the spill has moved into the Indian territory. The Sunderban forest is a contiguous and fragile ecosystem spread over 26,000 square Kilometer spanning across India and Bangladesh. In case the spill spreads to the Indian side, St Martin's Island, a coral reef area where the ecology is extremely sensitive, would be at direct risk. Apart from the forest department officials, Border Security Force and Coast Guard have been asked to keep a watch, particularly along Harinbhanga River and Raimangal where Indian Sunderbans merges into Bangladesh. An oil tanker has collided with an empty cargo vessel in the Bangladesh side of Sunderbans, spilling nearly 350 tonne of oil into the Sela river that runs through the world's largest Mangrove forest. Forest and security officials were on high alert on speculation the spill may cross over to the Indian side of the Sunderbans, home to Royal Bengal Tigers, Olive Ridley turtles, Ganges Dolphins and other aviflora and fauna. Sunderbans is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses several migratory birds, including those from Siberia, and crocodiles. Environment activists warned of a massive ecological disaster resulting from the spill, particularly in Mechua and Baghamara in the southernmost parts of the Sunderban delta where individual rivers meet the sea.

Source: Business Standard

Read More Related Content On This Topic - Click Here

Media

Taxonomy

• Environment
• Pollution