Latest news with #Carbide
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Fisher federation in Kerala urges Vizhinjam port officials to disclose cargo details of sunken vessel
Kochi: The Kerala Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation has urged Vizhinjam port authorities to disclose the details of the containers loaded on the sunken ship, MSC ELSA 3, and the exact content in the cargo. Federation president Jackson Pollayil said there were several reports on the cargo, which are causing unease among fishing communities and coastal inhabitants. The customs and port officials must provide a precise explanation and clarify whether adverse weather or technical issues led to the vessel's sinking, he said. Any official oversights warrant thorough investigation, regardless of the cause, Pollayil said. The federation expressed concern over the absence of comprehensive reports detailing goods handled at the port, despite authorities possessing the information. An expert assessment should evaluate the environmental consequences of potential leakages, including chemicals like Calcium Carbide and fuel from the vessel, he said. "The port authority and customs officials at Vizhinjam Port possess knowledge about the precise contents within these containers. Hence, the Vizhinjam International Port managing director must address public apprehensions," Pollayil said. He said compensation should be given to affected fishers following the sinking and called upon the ministry of shipping to install buoys marking the wreckage site to prevent fishing-related accidents.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Submersion of cargo ship off Kochi: Kerala chief minister convenes emergency meeting
1 2 T'puram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened an emergency high-level meeting on Monday to review the evolving situation following the complete submersion of Liberian cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 off the Kerala coast. A detailed statement issued by the CM's office outlined a series of urgent directions aimed at safeguarding the coastal population, averting an environmental crisis and coordinating response mechanisms involving state and national agencies. According to the statement, the ship sank 14.6 nautical miles off the Thottappally spillway, and although all crew members were safely rescued, the cargo and fuel on board posed significant risks. The vessel was carrying 643 containers, of which 73 were empty. Critically, 13 containers held hazardous materials, including Calcium Carbide — a chemical that can ignite or cause severe burns upon contact with water. Fuel from the ship also leaked into the sea, heightening concerns about environmental damage. As of Monday evening, 31 containers already drifted ashore — 29 in Kollam and two in Alappuzha. The Coast Guard mobilized two ships to contain the oil spill while a Dornier aircraft dispersed chemical powder to neutralise the leaked fuel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo As the disaster falls under the Tier-2 "incident" category, the response is being coordinated using national-level forces and resources. The operation is overseen by the director general of the Coast Guard, who also chairs the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan. The CM issued several directives to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Residents along the coast and members of the fishing community have been advised to remain highly vigilant. People are instructed not to approach or touch any unusual objects or containers found on the shore, to keep at least 200 metres away, and to immediately report any sightings to the emergency helpline 112. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea, both due to prevailing weather conditions and the threat posed by floating or submerged debris. Specifically, fishing is banned within a 20 nautical mile radius of the shipwreck site. To safely manage and remove containers that may wash ashore, the factories and boilers department has been directed to form rapid response teams (RRTs). Two RRTs each will be deployed in southern districts starting from Thrissur and one in each northern district. These teams will be equipped with JCBs and cranes for container handling. Simultaneously, the pollution control board has been tasked with forming a similar network of RRTs — two per southern district and one per northern district — to deal with oil slicks that reach the coast. District disaster management authorities, the police and other relevant departments will support these operations. Noting the possibility of fuel settling on the seabed, the chief minister directed the Coast Guard, Navy, forest department and factories and boilers department to prepare a dedicated action plan to address underwater contamination. Additionally, the Coast Guard, port department and Navy have been asked to arrange for additional equipment such as booms and skimmers to contain and clean up the oil spill more effectively. The statement said clear instructions were issued to all coastal districts and line departments for managing floating containers, oil slicks and any sunken fuel that may drift ashore or settle underwater. The state govt reaffirmed its priority to ensure public safety, protect the environment and safeguard the livelihoods of those dependent on the marine economy. Vijayan urged people not to panic, assuring that all possible actions were being taken with proper coordination among various departments and national agencies.
United News of India
7 days ago
- United News of India
Kerala: Liberian ship sinks off Kochi coast; Public advisory issued
Kochi, May 25 (UNI) Following the sinking of the Liberian container vessel in the Arabian sea, a public advisory has been issued directing people not to approach or interact with any floating or beached containers or debris, as they may contain dangerous substances. A total of 643 containers were on board, of which 73 were empty and 13 are carrying hazardous and dangerous goods, including Calcium Carbide; a chemical that reacts violently with water to release highly flammable acetylene gas. On May 24 at around 1:25 pm, container ship MSC ELSA 3 capsized and subsequently sank in the Arabian Sea en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi Port. All goods on board were non-duty paid at the time of the incident, and any unauthorized removal or pilferage of such goods is illegal, according to the advisory, issued by Office of the Chief Commisioner of Customs, Thiruvananthapuram Zone. Customs Marine and Preventive units have been deployed along the Kerala coast, and surveillance is ongoing in coordination with other agencies. Instead, anyone sighting such material is requested to immediately inform Customs Authorities at the below given numbers. Public cooperation is vital to ensuring safety and assisting ongoing recovery efforts, it added. Contact numbers: Custom House, Kochi Control Room: 0484-2666422, Customs (Preventive) Control Room, Kochi: 0484-4569400, and Customs Preventive Unit, Alleppey: 0477-2991132. UNI DS SS
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NGOs accuse state govt of misleading HC on toxic Carbide waste incineration
Bhopal: A group of four NGOs working among the gas victims on Wednesday accused the state govt of "misinforming" the MP high court and said the department of gas relief "omitted" critical information in the affidavit presented to the high court on the release of toxic chemicals during the trial run of Carbide waste incineration at Pithampur has all along maintained that the pollution data was captured with transparency, and there were no worrying spikes in the trial run. It has constantly allayed concerns around health and environment and said all parameters are within safe activists allege that the govt obtained green signal for incineration of Carbide waste by making "false representations" before the Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti (BGPSSS), another NGO working among the Bhopal gas victims had made a similar accusation against the state govt at a press conference the press conference on Wednesday, Bano Bee of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh said "The Madhya Pradesh high court's green light to continue with incineration of Union Carbide's hazardous waste was obtained falsely. Expert opinion on the 300-page report on the trial incinerations makes it clear that the high court was deliberately kept unaware of the leakage of anywhere between 5 to 20 kilograms of metallic mercury during the trial runs. As we know exposure to mercury damages the brain and it is so poisonous that according to the WHO there are no safe limits of exposure to mercury."Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said "Prof Asif Qureshi from IIT Hyderabad carried out a simple exercise of mass balance for mercury on the basis of the information provided in the report and found that the incineration of 10 tonnes of hazardous waste caused the emission of 1.53 to 6.88 kgs of mercury. It is shocking that authorities have not included this information in the affidavit he submitted to the high court."Balkrishna Namdeo, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha, said: "As Prof Qureshi has pointed out, well over 40 to 200 kg of mercury will be released due to the incineration of the 300 tonnes of Union Carbide's hazardous waste. This toxic disaster of unprecedented scale has already begun in Pithampur..."President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Nawab Khan said, "We have written to the Union minister of environment calling for an end to the ongoing disaster in Pithampur. This can be done by making Union Carbide's owner Dow Chemical carry the hazardous waste to the US for safe disposal as had been done for the mercury waste from Kodaikanal in Tamilnadu in 2003. We are yet to know whether the minister will indeed take any steps but hope the high court will realise how it has been conned by the state government in allowing the incineration of Union Carbide's hazardous waste to proceed at Pithampur."Bhopal Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti (BGPSSS), another NGO working among the Bhopal gas victims had made a similar accusation against the state govt at a press conference recently.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Telangana promotes Ethephon over banned Calcium Carbide for fruit ripening
With the arrival of mango season, the Telangana Food Safety department on Monday (April 21, 2025) has launched an awareness drive urging farmers, traders, and consumers to adopt safe methods for ripening fruits. Health Minister for Health C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, who launched the poster, said that the use of banned chemicals such as Calcium Carbide for artificial ripening poses serious health hazards and is strictly prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards Act Ethephon recommended for controlled ripening Instead, the department recommends using Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), a safer alternative approved for controlled ripening. According to the guidelines, one 500mg sachet of Ethephon is sufficient for ripening 10 kilograms of fruit. Why is Ethephon used? Ethephon is a plant growth regulator commonly used in farming to help fruits ripen faster, promote flowering, or make leaves and fruits drop easily for harvesting. How to use Ethephon for ripening fruits? To use the chemical correctly, the Ethephon sachet should first be soaked in water and then placed inside a small plastic container, such as a soap box. This box must then be placed inside the airtight fruit box, which should be kept sealed for 24 hours to ensure effective ripening, as per the information in the poster. In case of violations, people can dial 9100105795 to lodge complaints.
