PARADIP: Frequent incidents of gas leak from Paradip Refinery of IOCL has panicked residents of Paradip. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board on Tuesday served notice to the IOCL to check the leakage. On Sunday, there was leakage of Hydrogen Sulphide gas from the refinery, which continued till evening. This caused suffocation, nausea, tearing and cough among the people residing in Dhinkia, Trilochanpur, Gandikipur, Bhutmundei, Pipal, Biswali, Pitamberpur, Jagati, Narendrapur and Mangrajpur villages. Locals informed the State Pollution Control Board and its officials investigated the source of gas leak, tracing leakage of Hydrogen Sulphide from Paradip Refinery.
Betel vine growers made similar allegations. Betel is grown in areas like Dhinkia, Patana, Gobindpur, Nuagaon, Gadkujang and Trilochanpur and farmers alleged that due to emission of poisonous gases from Paradip Refinery and other factories, betel leaves are withering.Regional Officer of State Pollution Control Board, Mukeh Mahaling, said notice has been served to the IOCL and it has been asked to take immediate corrective measures.