The Indian government has summoned foreign experts to tackle the alarming situation on the Mumbai coast following the oil slick and has asked for a status report from the shipping ministry.
According to PMO sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Minister Manmohan Singh has called for a preliminary report from the ministry on the oil spill.
Two Panamanian cargo ships -- MSC Chitra and Merchant Vessel Khalija -- collided off the Mumbai coast causing an oil-spill from one of the vessels.
The issue was also raised in the Rajya Sabha where environment minister Jairam Ramesh said legal action has been initiated against owners of the vessels.
Another team of experts in handling maritime disasters has arrived from Singapore to assist in salvage operations.
Thirty-three crew members, including two Pakistanis, were rescued following the incident.
The Navy and the Coast Guard carried out anti-pollution operations for the third consecutive day today to check and neutralise the oil spill.
The ship contained around 2,600 tonne oil of which 500 tonne is believed to have spilled. So far, 300 of the 1,200 containers on the ship have tumbled into the water.
There could be much more serious ecological implications of the accident as containers aboard MSC Chitra are falling into the sea, said sources.
At least 31 containers with hazardous chemicals, including organo-phosphorous pesticides, sodium hydrochloride and pyrethroid pesticides, are on board and quite a few of
them might have tumbled into the sea and their contents leaked.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) authorities have been asked not to use sea water for cooling purposes at the premier atomic establishment.
Coastal districts of Maharashtra have been put on alert as the oil slick has spread to the Alibaug and Uran areas, and also close to thec Elephanta Caves amid concerns that it may also damage the rich mangrove belt along the Mumbai coastline.