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KARACHI, Aug 21: Due to unfavourable weather condition, salvagers of Tasman Spirit have decided to keep the lighterage operation at the Karachi harbour suspended for some more days. The operation was discontinued on Wednesday.
Sources said on Thursday night that during the last 24 hours a couple of futile attempts were made to bring the small salvage ship Fair Jolly along side the ship which ran aground on July 27 and finally broke into two last Thursday.
They expressed the fear that in the present bad weather when the sea was rough, attempts to extract oil from the stranded oil tanker could cause damage to Fair Jolly.
A KPT press release said the lighterage operation was resumed on Thursday but was stopped again in view of the prevailing weather, as effective lighterage could take place only in calm waters.
In the meantime, federal minister for communication, Ahmad Ali, chaired a meeting on environment and pollution issues here on Thursday.
Adviser to chief minister on environment, Faisal Malik, and the federal secretary environment, among others, attended the meeting and discussed the measures taken to combat the pollution occurring after the huge spillage of crude oil from Tasman Spirit.
The sources said that in the meeting there was difference of opinion between local and foreign experts conducting different beach and sea-cleaning operations.
The DHA’s decision not to allow beach cleaners to dump oily sand or other debris within its jurisdiction was also discussed in the meeting.
It was further learnt that the city government had suggested three sites for dumping of sludge and other oil-soaked material collected from the beach. However, it is now up to the salvagers to opt for the city government’s sites, which are at a considerable distance from the operation site. Environmentalists are of the view that debris should be treated scientifically and all measures should be taken for its safe lifting and storage at the seaside, and later for its permanent dumping at any landfill site.
Foreign experts think that oily material and earth layer drawn from the beach can be used in a combination with lime for road construction or at kilns. However, some local experts oppose the idea and stress absolutely safe disposal.
WORKSHOP: Following the directives from the Sindh Government Crisis Management Cell, the Karachi Port Trust on Thursday organized a workshop to discuss the launching of Karachi beach front-cleaning operation and integrate all available resources, adds PPI.
Foreign experts from Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) and East Asian Response Limited (EARL) demonstrated usage of equipment, protective gears, handling of earth skimming tools and disposal of trash, garbage and contaminated sand.
Supervisors of operation teams of Defence Housing Authority, city government and KPT were given a briefing and imparted short training at the workshop which was held at a seaside restaurant.
Brig Iftekhar Arshad Khan of KPT and Wayne O’Brien conducted the workshop. Doctors and specialists from various hospitals spoke on health care and the hazards likely to be encountered during the conduct of this operation.
Safety and precautionary measures were also highlighted.
MEDICAL CAMPS: The School Health Services, Karachi, has established medical camps, to be operated under the supervision of its Deputy Director Dr Asif Zaman, in Sheerin Jinnah Colony and Seaview areas for the affected people of the slick-hit coastal belt.
Advisor to the chief minister on health Nauman Sehgal and the provincial Health Secretary Ashique Hussain Memon would inaugurate the camps on Friday.
Schoolchildren would also be provided free consultation and treatment by eye, skin, ENT and other specialists.
Eye drops, nebulizers and oxygen cylinders have been made available at the camps. The institution has also provided 5,000 masks and placed pamphlets, containing information about precautionary measures and guidance, for distribution among the affected and vulnerable people.
