Oil spill: BMC conducts checks on seafood items

Following collision between two ships and the subsequent oil spill off the coast in Mumbai, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has started conducting random checks of seafood items in civic markets to ensure they are free of any contamination.

"As the oil spill spread fast and thick off Mumbai coast, we have taken samples of sea food items like Bombil (Bombay Duck) and Prawns.

These samples have been sent to labs for testing and reports will come within four days to confirm whether they are hygienic or not," BMC assistant municipal commissioner (markets) Deepak Kamat told PTI.

"Also, we fear that small fishermen might start fishing activity as this is their only source of income. So we have commenced surveillance to avoid any health hazards," he said. Checks have been conducted only in affected city areas like Colaba, Fort, Nariman Point and others from where most of the sea food is procured.

These checks were done on a random basis at those landing spots that supply sea food to municipal markets, Kamat said, adding the process will continue for a few more days. BMC has 92 municipal markets in all of which 53 sell sea food.

There are over 29 markets in the city area, of which sea food is available at 24 markets, he said.

The civic body has also issued an advisory asking people to take precautions while buying fish. Fishermen have also been told to avoid fishing in areas affected by the oil spill.