Train coaches yet to be salvaged

Oil spill may take toll on Halda River, fear experts

Marine scientists and environmentalists fear that the spilt furnace oil may spread in the Halda river with the tide, posing a serious threat to aquatic life.
They also urged the authorities to take steps so that the furnace oil does not contaminate the Halda river.
The Halda, which flows through Hathazari and Raozan upazilas of Chittagong, is one of the country's major natural sweet water fish-breeding spots. Every year in April, indigenous fish species migrate from different rivers, including the Karnaphuli and Sangu, to the Halda to spawn.
Officials of the District Fisheries Department and marine scientists yesterday (Monday) collected samples of water from the Halda and sent it the Department of Environment for measuring the extent of spill.
When contacted, Prabhati Deb, district fisheries officer, told The Independent that they visited the accident site.
“We have undertaken certain measures to prevent the oil spill from spreading. We have engaged our staff at Madunaghat bridge. The fisheries staff will collect water hyacinth mixed with furnace oil. Besides, we will use cloth and strainer for separating the oil from water,” said Prabhati.
Mesbah Uddin, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner, said he has learnt that the spilt oil has spread in the Halda river to some extent.
“We will seek suggestion from the Halda experts and environmentalists on how to prevent spread of the oil spill. We will try our level best on manual basis so that the oil spill cannot enter the Halda waters. I think most of the oil spill has spread towards the sea. I have toured the Karnaphuli river and Boalkhali canal. I have seen that the thick layer has already become diluted. We will not let Halda be contaminated,” the DC affirmed.
Manzoorul Kibria, Associate Professor of Zoology, Chittagong University, however, said the Halda waters had already been contaminated by the oil spill.
“The oil slick has already spread up to Napiter Ghat of Hathazari upazila. Construction of rubber dams and unplanned sluice gates for irrigation and discharge of industrial wastes are destroying the environment for spawning in the Halda river. Moreover, the quantity of eggs released by mother fishes has been witnessing a decreasing trend in the Halda over the last few years. The oil spill has made the matter worse,” added Kibria, who is also an expert on the Halda river.  

“The manual clean-up efforts through using cloth, water hyacinth, banana leaves or straw is ridiculous, compared to the extent of oil spill and its subsequent damage,” added Kibria.
Kibria also urged the government to send a special team equipped with sophisticated equipment and technical know-how to tackle the oil spill.
On the other hand, the ministry of environment and forests on Sunday formed a coordination committee, headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong, to address the oil spill at Boalkhali, aiming to minimise its aftermath. The committee was formed at a high-level meeting held in the ministry with the environment minister in the chair.
While talking to The Independent, Mohammad Abdullah, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner, said he heard about the committee but had not received any official letter yet.
“I have visited the spot of the accident. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has decided to buy the furnace oil from local people at Tk. 60 per litre. I have to come to know that locals have so far collected 200 litres of the spilt furnace oil,” said the Divisional Commissioner, adding that the rail communication might be restored by  today (Tuesday).
“The repair work at the site of the accident was going on in full swing. However, it might take a few days more to salvage the plunged wagons,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
“The oil slick has already spread far. As part of clean-up efforts, we are trying to place an oil-boom in the canal. However, it has become difficult to place the oil boom due to strong currents in the water,” added the DC.    
“We are trying to minimise the impact of the oil spill on the environment. We have already employed 60 people to remove the water hyacinths mixed with furnace oil, smearing soil and plants on the shorelines and adjacent areas of the canal,” added the DC.
Prof Dr Md Shahadat Hossain, director, Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, Chittagong University, however, differed with the approach of the administration with regard to tackling the oil spill.
“I myself have visited the area. The decision to remove oil from the plants on the shorelines will do more harm than good. We should keep the environment as it is, since the oil slick will get mixed with the soft mud more while being removed from shoreline plants,” Prof Shahadat said.
The oil spill occurred on June 19 when a freight train, carrying furnace oil from Chittagong, derailed at Boalkhali. The derailment occurred after a berth of Bridge No. 24 near Dhalghat railway station broke.

 

Train coaches yet to be salvaged

Oil spill may take toll on Halda River, fear experts

Marine scientists and environmentalists fear that the spilt furnace oil may spread in the Halda river with the tide, posing a serious threat to aquatic life. They also urged the authorities to take steps so that the furnace oil does not contaminate the Halda river. The Halda, which flows through Hathazari and Raozan upazilas of Chittagong, is one of the countrys major natural sweet water fish-breeding spots. Every year in April, indigenous fish species migrate from different rivers, including the Karnaphuli and Sangu, to the Halda to spawn. Officials of the District Fisheries Department and marine scientists yesterday (Monday) collected samples of water from the Halda and sent it the Department of Environment for measuring the extent of spill. When contacted, Prabhati Deb, district fisheries officer, told The Independent that they visited the accident site. We have undertaken certain measures to prevent the oil spill from spreading. We have engaged our staff at Madunaghat bridge. The fisheries staff will collect water hyacinth mixed with furnace oil. Besides, we will use cloth and strainer for separating the oil from water, said Prabhati. Mesbah Uddin, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner, said he has learnt that the spilt oil has spread in the Halda river to some extent. We will seek suggestion from the Halda experts and environmentalists on how to prevent spread of the oil spill. We will try our level best on manual basis so that the oil spill cannot enter the Halda waters. I think most of the oil spill has spread towards the sea. I have toured the Karnaphuli river and Boalkhali canal. I have seen that the thick layer has already become diluted. We will not let Halda be contaminated, the DC affirmed. Manzoorul Kibria, Associate Professor of Zoology, Chittagong University, however, said the Halda waters had already been contaminated by the oil spill. The oil slick has already spread up to Napiter Ghat of Hathazari upazila. Construction of rubber dams and unplanned sluice gates for irrigation and discharge of industrial wastes are destroying the environment for spawning in the Halda river. Moreover, the quantity of eggs released by mother fishes has been witnessing a decreasing trend in the Halda over the last few years. The oil spill has made the matter worse, added Kibria, who is also an expert on the Halda river. The manual clean-up efforts through using cloth, water hyacinth, banana leaves or straw is ridiculous, compared to the extent of oil spill and its subsequent damage, added Kibria. Kibria also urged the government to send a special team equipped with sophisticated equipment and technical know-how to tackle the oil spill. On the other hand, the ministry of environment and forests on Sunday formed a coordination committee, headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong, to address the oil spill at Boalkhali, aiming to minimise its aftermath. The committee was formed at a high-level meeting held in the ministry with the environment minister in the chair. While talking to The Independent, Mohammad Abdullah, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner, said he heard about the committee but had not received any official letter yet. I have visited the spot of the accident. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has decided to buy the furnace oil from local people at Tk. 60 per litre. I have to come to know that locals have so far collected 200 litres of the spilt furnace oil, said the Divisional Commissioner, adding that the rail communication might be restored by today (Tuesday). The repair work at the site of the accident was going on in full swing. However, it might take a few days more to salvage the plunged wagons, said the Deputy Commissioner. The oil slick has already spread far. As part of clean-up efforts, we are trying to place an oil-boom in the canal. However, it has become difficult to place the oil boom due to strong currents in the water, added the DC. We are trying to minimise the impact of the oil spill on the environment. We have already employed 60 people to remove the water hyacinths mixed with furnace oil, smearing soil and plants on the shorelines and adjacent areas of the canal, added the DC. Prof Dr Md Shahadat Hossain, director, Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, Chittagong University, however, differed with the approach of the administration with regard to tackling the oil spill. I myself have visited the area. The decision to remove oil from the plants on the shorelines will do more harm than good. We should keep the environment as it is, since the oil slick will get mixed with the soft mud more while being removed from shoreline plants, Prof Shahadat said. The oil spill occurred on June 19 when a freight train, carrying furnace oil from Chittagong, derailed at Boalkhali. The derailment occurred after a berth of Bridge No. 24 near Dhalghat railway station broke.