Oil's not well with iconic chowpatty

Thick layers of oil sticking to plastic and other debris were washed ashore Chowpatty beach on Sunday morning. “Spills like these will harm non-moving organisms and filter feeders like barnacles, shell fish, corals, sponges and marine algae on the rocky patch off Marine Drive,” says marine conservationist Pradip Patade who has been documenting marine biodiversity around the city.

The Coast Guard denied knowledge of an active oil spill in waters close to Mumbai’s shores. The Mumbai Port Trust, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the MCGM are yet to find out the source of the oil spill.

An oil leak, believed to be from the sunk bulk carrier, MV Rak, had spread panic and tar balls were spotted at Juhu beach, Gorai and Alibaug in 2011. Juhu beach was also covered with tar balls in July 2014. Tar balls, blamed on dumping of oil by ships, were also noticed on Goa’s beaches in 2014.