Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh [Images] told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the oil spill in Mumbai [Images] has been contained, adding that the Mumbai harbour will be cleared for transportation by August 15.    

Even the Maharashtra [Images] government said the situation was completely under control as Coast Guard officials had plugged the leakages.

"The situation is under control now. I was briefed by Coast Guard officials that the leakage from where the oil was spilling out from MSC Chitra has been plugged yesterday and no further oil spill has been reported," Chief Minister Ashok Chavan [Images] said.

To a query, Chavan said it is estimated that between 400-500 metric tonnes of oil might have spilled from the vessel. He was speaking to reporters after reviewing the oil spill situation at the Coast Guard headquarters in Worli.

However, the chemical dispersion exercise is underway, he said, adding, the experts from a Singapore firm, who arrived here, have started their operations related to the oil spill.

"The exercise to remove the remaining oil from MSC Chitra will be initiated by respective agencies from August 13," Chavan said.

Two Panamanian cargo ships-- MSC Chitra and Merchant Vessel Khalija--had collided off the Mumbai coast on August 7, causing an oil-spill from one of the vessels.