The Department of Environment (DoE) has fined the owner of a lighter oil tanker Tk 30 million on the charge of polluting the environment through spilling heavy fuel into the Karnaphuli river.
Azadur Rahman Mollick, DoE director of Chittagong metropolitan, slapped the fine on the lighter vessel “Desh-1” following a hearing held at the DoE office on Sunday (Oct 27) in Chattogram.
The lighter vessel was also asked to pay the fine without delay.
DoE Assistant Director Sangjucta Das Gupta said, “A team from DoE visited the spot on Saturday after huge amounts of oil spilled into the river.”
“Later, the DoE issued a notice to the owner of the errant lighter oil tanker to attend a hearing where it was slapped with a fine,” he added.
On Oct 25, at least 10 tonne of diesel was spilled into the Karnaphuli river following a collision between two oil tankers.
The accident took place at the river’s Padma Jetty when Khulna bound oil tanker “Desh-1” carrying 1200 tons of diesel collided with vegetable oil tanker “City-38” which was anchored at Padma jetty.
Omar Faruk, secretary to the Chittagong Port Authority claimed that they could collect 80-90 percent of the spilled oil till Saturday (Oct 26).
Following the accident, the port authorities seized the vessels, and handed those over to Bangladesh Coast Guard.