The authorities concerned have yet not been able to figure out the actual reason behind the oil spill along the Mubarak Village-Churna Island coastal belt, which has adversely affected the livelihood of local fishermen, a private media outlet reported on Friday.
No cleanup operation has started despite the claims made by Balochistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
However, PDMA has claimed that the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has sent boats and equipment for a cleanup operation along the Mubarak Village-Churna Island coastal belt.
According to a statement issued by the Balochistan Environmental protection Agency (BEPA), a 300-metre stretch of the coastal belt located North-East of the Churna Island has been affected by the oil spill.
The locals have complained that so far no efforts have been made to clean the oil spill, which has “destroyed their livelihood and the only source of income”.
After the news regarding the oil spill surfaced on Thursday, the provincial authorities had ordered Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited (BPPL), which operates a facility near the location of the oil spill, to halt its operations till further notice.
However, BPPL denied that a leak had taken place at any of its facilities. “BPPL continues to operate its crude oil refineries,” read a statement released by the company.
“BPPL would like to clarify that no leak or loss of containment has taken place from any of its installations and all such reports purporting to the contrary are totally baseless, false, irresponsible and misleading,” the statement added.
The spillage of tar and oil has wreaked havoc on the entire stretch of the coast from Mubarak Village to Churna Island and a strong stench permeates the area, local residents and fishermen said.
