PARADIP: A Pipeline of Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) was yet again cut by miscreants to steal fuel at the CISF Chhak on Nehru Bangla road here on Sunday night. A portion of river Kaudia has been polluted due to the oil spill and fishermen fear that it may affect the fish catch. The spot where pipeline was cut is 15 kms from Paradip Port oil jetty.
The miscreants had drilled a large hole in the pipeline, which came to the notice of IOCL security guards, who informed IOCL Senior Manager DP Reddy on Monday morning. Engineer of IOCL rushed to the spot and plugged the hole after a few hours. Subsequently, a complaint was filed by Reddy at the Marine police station and an FIR was lodged.
Officials of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board visited the spot to study environmental damage following the oil spill. Regional Officer of Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Prashant Kumar Kar said no death of marine species has been reported but oil spill samples have collected from the river for tests.
The four-lane pipelines of IOCL extending upto 15 km from oil berth to the oil refinery pass through isolated places. These pipelines cross a mangrove forest and frequent oil spills have posed a threat to the marine species.
Eight months back, miscreants had drilled a hole in an IOCL pipeline at Kaudia riverbed to steal fuel and two such incidents had occurred in May last year. Following these incidents, thousands of dead fishes were found floating in Kaudia. Nearly six oil theft incidents were reported between 2015 and 2016, Besides, on June 7, 2015, the miscreants had cut a pipeline and placed a valve to extract fuel. Apart from river Kaudia, fishermen depend on rivers like Bata, Kadua, Santra and Pattakani creeks for their daily catch.
They alleged that oil spill from IOCL pipeline and discharge of effluents by other industries had been leading to heavy pollution of the water bodies.