The tar balls hitting the Western coast of the country, including the Goan coastline could also be from the oil of Bombay High region, more recent studies conducted by Goa-based National Institute of Oceanography have indicated.
“Earlier studies we had conducted had concluded that South East Asian oil transported through Arabian sea was the culprit of these tar balls affecting the Western coast. However, our more recent studies have revealed that it could be the Bombay High,” said S. W. A. Naqui, Director, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), a Goa-based ocean research body, talking to The Hindu on Saturday.
He disclosed that the NIO, under the aegis of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), had conducted “fingerprinting” of tar balls to match with their source.
Previously all of it seemed to match with the oil from South East Asian companies. Considering the enormous transport of oil through the Arabian Sea, it was thought to be the source that was eventually polluting the coast. However, recent finger printing and matching of samples by NIO has found some quantity matching with Bombay High oil as well.
Goa’s pristine beaches are subjected to the menace of tar balls prior to monsoon as well as during the monsoons in a big way resulting in a major threat to the tourist coastline.
