Mangaluru, Aug 1: The Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) is checking the possibility of oil leakage from its underground pipelines here, after people complained of a leak.
The residents expressed fear over the leaked oil mixing with the Phalguni river water.
In a statement today, MRPL said during a routine pipeline corridor inspection from MRPL to New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), MRPLofficials had noticed oil traces on the surface near AdaniWilmar on SEZ road.
The source of the oil was yet to be established, it said, adding that waste material was being illegally dumped inthe vicinity of MRPL pipeline corridor.
The possibility of dumping of waste oil by unknown persons in the vicinity of thepipelines could not be ruled out, it said.
"To eliminate the possibility of leak from MRPL's underground pipelines, the company has started excavation of the area. So far no leak from the pipeline has been observed," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State president Muneer Katipalla alleged that the leak must have been happening for many days.
Mr. Katipalla said that the leakage must have gone unnoticed following heavy rains all these days and it came to notice only about two days ago after the rains subsided.
He suspected that the leak must have contaminated groundwater in the area and also percolated to the adjacent Phalguni (Gurupura) river.
Mr. Katipalla alleged that MRPL has been hiding all flaws in active collusion with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and deplored its attitude.
The pipeline carries fuel oil (furnace) to NMPT for onward export and is insulated with bitumen to keep the oil warm. Because of MRPL’s thrust on production of pet coke as a by-product, furnace oil is produced in less quantity and once in a month it is pumped to NMPT, the spokesperson said in an attempt to alleviate pollution concerns.
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