Bitumen Leak From Tanker At India’s Port Of Baithkhol Raises Ecological Concerns

A tanker that arrived from Oman’s Shinas Port led to Bitumen leakage at the Baithkhol Port in Karwar, India, raising ecological concerns about contamination of surrounding waters and the impact on marine life.

MT Padmanabh, reportedly owned by Aligadda Company, is alleged to be the source of the leakage in the port area.

According to sources, the ship was carrying 4,460.5 metric tonnes of bitumen when it arrived at the port.

The leakage is said to have occurred during unloading operations or due to a technical fault, though these are assumptions and the exact cause has not yet been determined.

The incident has led to widespread concerns among residents who fear the bitumen could impact fish and other marine life.

A layer of bitumen on the surface of the sea could hamper the movement of small fishing boats as it adheres to boat hulls, making navigation difficult and causing financial losses to boat owners and fishermen.

People have asked the authorities to investigate the incident, to determine the extent of the spill, the quantity of bitumen leakage and its environmental impact.

They also called for a high-level inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the incident and who was responsible for the leakage.