Suspected oil spill at Surathkal beach: Water samples sent to CMFRI for analysis

Mangaluru: Officials of the Pollution Control Board are investigating the suspected oil slick observed at a beach in Surathkal on Friday.

As per the preliminary investigation, the color change observed was due to the surfacing of algae from deep waters, the officials said.

Pollution Control Board officials along with officials from MRPL and SEZ  visited the beach where the anomaly was observed. The officials collected water samples for analysis.

Meanwhile, water samples have been sent to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) for further analysis. A clear picture will emerge once the test results are received, they added.

Officials said the color of the water changes when algae from depts of water float to the top and are exposed to sunshine. This phenomenon commonly occurs just before the arrival of the Monsoon, they added.

Locals, however, are not convinced. They claim that the color change observed is due to an oil spill. There had been allegations that the ol found was from international oil vessels dumping waste at deep sea.