Government apologises to people of Karachi

A federal minister yesterday apologised to the people of Karachi for the inconvenience they faced because of the massive oil spill from a grounded Greek tanker, but insisted the spill had caused little damage to the environment or to marine life.

"I apologise to the people of Karachi for all the inconvenience they have faced because of the oil spill", Ali Ahmed, federal minister for communication told reporters. "It is a national disaster, but I disagree with the perception that the spill threatens marine life", he said brushing aside concerns expressed by the environmentalists who called the spill a major "ecological disaster."

The Greek tanker Tasman Spirit, carrying 67,500 tonnes of crude, ran aground just outside the channel leading to the Karachi Port on July 27. The ship snapped into two earlier this week spilling thousands of tonnes of crude into the Arabian Sea, blackening the once pristine beaches of Karachi and killing marine life.

But government officials say the spill has caused little damage to the marine life, which they say was not found on the eastern shores. Ahmed said the average fish catch remains the same. On August 12, 4,100 tonnes of fish were brought to the port, while the next day it was 4,500 tones. On August 14, the day Tasman Spirit broke into two, the catch was 1,900 tones, he said.

Meanwhile a massive operation has started to clean the beaches and the sea from the oil spill.

"Most likely the operation to drain out the remaining crude from the ship would start today (Sunday)," Ahmed said. It will take at least 10 days to complete, he added.

Authorities say they drained out around 19,000 tonnes from the ship and at least 34,000 tonnes still remain on the ship. The rest of the 14,000 tones of crude spilled into the sea. "We are keeping an eye on the situation. Tugs have started cleaning the sea, while an aircraft is also spraying chemicals which will help the crude to disperse."

The British government has sent 150 tonnes of thechemical, while another 100 tonnes is due shortly, he said. On the beaches of Shirin Jinnah Colony, Clifton and Defense Housing Authority bulldozers were being used to remove one-and-a-half-inch of sand layer.

Ahmed said the polluted sand would be disposed off at a specific farm under the supervision of British experts.

Meanwhile, the main beaches remained shut to the general public as mounted policemen and Rangers wearing masks patrolled the area.

"The strong smell has subsided," Waseemuddin, a resident of Defense, told Gulf News. "But our lives are still far from normal. Whenever I look at the black sea water from the window of my apartment, it makes me sad. Our beaches have been destroyed. I hope the government cleans them up."

Operation to pump oil will take 10 days
- The grounded tanker was carrying 67,500 tonnes of crude.

- About 19,000 tonnes crude oil was drained before the ship broke in two on Thursday, but some 12,000 tonnes spilled into the sea, killing fish and turtles.

- The operation to pump the remaining oil from a tanker is expected to take at least 10 days to complete.

- Around 6,000 litres of chemicals have been sprayed on the crude oil to settle it on the sea bed.

- A 16 km stretch of Karachi's eastern coastline has been badly affected by the spill.