Divers grilled by forest dept officials

RAJKOT, Dec 1: The two divers from M/S Underwater Services, who were detained on Wednesday by the Forest Department, were interrogated by officers in connection with last week8217;s oil slick off the Vadinar coast.

The two divers, Paramjit Singh and P N B Rao, who are on contract with IOC, Vadinar are responsible for maintenance of the IOC8217;s SBM single buoy mooring under water. Forest department officials said the divers were being questioned because they had recently serviced the SBM. 8220;The investigation is on to pinpoint the source and time of the leak and these two divers will be able to throw some light on the matter,8221; officials said. In view of the arrest of the divers, another executive of the diver8217;s firm. Mohan B Samant, also filed an anticipatory bail plea which will be heard tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the oil slick spotted on Wednesday has been dispersed with chemicals. Vadinar port officials said the patch was scattered and it later settled on the sea bed.

Conservator R C Pal, who is also Director of the Marine National Park, is looking into the slick spotted on Wednesday at Vadinar port.

In another development, an anticipatory bail application filed by two IOC officers was taken up today for hearing in the court of the additional sessions judge, but as Range Forest Officer B H Dave, who was supposed to file an affidavit was absent, the hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.