The “oil tanker has now broken into two”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3150313.stm. “India offered to help”:http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003081501241200.htm, but so far the Pakistan govt. hasn’t responded. The saddest part of the whole affair is that the Federal govt. said that since the tanker has now sunk the worst is over. Nobody here seems the least bit concerned about the oil spill. The local news channels story last night about the oil spill centered on the fact that people couldn’t go to the beach to enjoy the view. More details at “Times.com.pk”:http://www.timespk.com/2003/august/14/top.htm.
“!http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39395000/jpg/_39395845_tankerap2_203.jpg(Oil Spill)! (BBC News: Oil emergency off Karachi coast)”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3147647.stm The smell of oil is omnipresent miles from the beach. Near the sea, it is hard to breath as the smell of oil is everywhere and it seems like the oil is actually mixing with the humidity and hanging in the air. Most of the restruants near the sea have been closed for a few days now. If the “oil spill is making life difficult”:http://www.dawn.com/2003/08/10/local1.htm now, then if/once the tanker breaks up its going to be unbearable.
bq.. KARACHI (Reuters) – An oil tanker grounded off Pakistan’s Karachi port has started cracking and officials said on Wednesday they feared a major oil spill in the next 12 hours.
The Greek ship Tasman Spirit, carrying 67,500 tons of oil, was grounded near the port on July 27 and three attempts to tow it away have failed.
>> “Reuters”:http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=3269003
p. 3000 tons have already been spilled, and the EPA is busy “ordering action against the concerned authorities”:http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/aug2003-daily/14-08-2003/metro/k1.htm. As for getting it cleaned up, well these guys have their priorities set straight.
I wonder when we will get the whole compensation from the Tasman oil company? Exxon has paid almost all the charges and they have also helped the goverenment to cleanup the sea. They are still cleaning it up but here at Clifton the cleanup is done. How come its possible? Our Government has taken it very lightly and is shown by the comments given by our officials. The charges paid by Exxon are so much that no company will dare to be careless but here in Pakistan what were the penalties they actually paid? I dont know. Do U?