KARACHI: Spillage: insurance firm falls short of liable assistance
KARACHI, Sept 3: The Coordination Committee, constituted under the directives of President Musharraf, has expressed its dissatisfaction over the assistance provided by the concerned insurance company in making up the losses inflicted by the oil spillage from Tasman Spirit.
The high-level Coordination Committee met here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkil Qazi and reviewed the measures taken, as well as the facilities extended by insurance company, to tackle the situation arising out of the spillage.
The beach has been devastated and an extensive damage is caused to the whole area along the beach besides marine life and coastal habitat, the meeting noted.
The meeting was informed that the spillage had also created health hazard for the citizens and the fish industry had badly been affected. The commercial recreational spots along the beach have also been closed.
It emphasized that an extensive survey should be conducted to ascertain that how much oil had actually gone down to the bottom of sea. It asked the concerned department to analyze water quality at different points to find out the extent of hydrocarbon available in the water.
The committee noted with concern that the insurance company had not provided an adequate number of equipment, booms, skimmers, etc., to deal with the situation.
It decided to continue surface cleaning and beach-cleaning as per its earlier decision.
The committee was informed that a medical survey involving residents of the beach area had been started by the health department and KPT.
The meeting was attended by all members of the committee.
HEALTH HAZARDS: Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkil Qazi has directed the health department to extend its full cooperation to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and city government to find out whether bacteria exists in the areas affected by the oil spillage from Tasman Spirit so as to ensure implementation on the decisions of the coordination committee formed on the directive of President Musharraf.
Dr Qazi was speaking at a meeting, held in his office here on Wednesday, with environmental expert from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mr Onder Yuser, Federal Environment Secretary Javed Zafar, UNDP Adviser (Relief and Rescue) Zafar Iqbal, Provincial Home Secretary Syed Anwar Hyder, Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Ghulam Serwar Khero and Senior Member of the Board of Revenue Manzoor Hussain Bhutto.
The meeting reviewed the measures taken so far with regard to the environmental conditions in the wake of the spillage.
The UNDP expert praised the cooperation extended by the Sindh government and KPT and said that he would take measures to get services of the international expert of World Health Organisation on the basis of ecological/environmental survey.
He also stressed on the coordination with local experts, NGOs and other institutions and assured cooperation from his side to the KPT and Sindh government with regard to the requirements from the IMO. He said he would present his report next week.
The damage caused by recent rains and floods were also discussed at the meeting. Mr Bhutto apprised the meeting of the relief operations carried out after the rains.
Mr Khero said that allocation of funds for the concerned schemes would be ensured after completion of survey reports.
Dr Qazi told the meeting that water requirements for the next five years would be fulfilled easily as the water level in Hub Dam, Haleji, Keenjhar, Manchar, Chotiari and Thado Dam had gone up considerably.
He appreciated the role of the CDGK, KPT, DHA, EPA, Rangers, Directorate General of Ports and Shipping and Sindh Police in the post-slick operations.
Additional Relief Commissioner Ali Nawaz Mallah, Fazal A. Nizamani of NEAP, Chief Economist A. G. Pirzada and Deputy Secretary Coordination Nokhaiz Anwer Siddiqui were also present at the meeting.—PPI
