Over oil leakage in Imphal west, high-level probe initiated by govt

Imphal: The Manipur government has constituted a high-level committee headed by Additional Director General of Police Ashutosh Kumar Sinha to investigate the oil spill incident from a power plant in Imphal West.
Dr. Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Power) and M. Pradip Singh, Additional Secretary (Home) have been appointed as members and member-conveners respectively in the committee.
In an order issued by Governor Anusuiya Uikey, the team was directed to submit its findings to the state government within 15 days, and empowered to appoint members.
During the investigation, the team will inquire about the causes of the leakage incident, including how the oil from the power plant got into the river. The three-member committee will further inquire into the factors that led to such an incident and consider such matters as may be found relevant during the inquiry, the order said.
The committee members were also directed to suggest immediate and long-term measures for the safety and security of the plant.
Reports of a heavy oil spill from the Leimakhong Power Station on Wednesday night have alarmed the locals as thick black furnace oil flowed into rivers in Kanto Sabal village and Sekmai under Sekmai police station.
These rivers join the Imphal River flowing through Khurkhul, Loitang, Kameng, Iroisemba, and Nambol. On receiving the information, the Department of Electricity, Water Resources, Environment, Relief and Disaster, police teams and district administration in the presence of concerned ministers and MLAs urged for immediate action with the help of local people.

Men and machinery were also put into action, and as an immediate measure, the stream was diverted. The main course of the stream has been blocked at Kantosabal to contain the spread of heavy fuel into the public water supply system and diverted to a nearby dugout field, according to the official report.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced that, following the oil leakage incident, the state force will now guard the heavy fuel power plant at Leimakhong.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered in connection with the incident and the area has been sealed completely by deputing adequate security forces.

He further informed that the Department of Public Health Engineering is working in close coordination with the technical teams from IIT, Guwahati, Manipur University, and NIT, Manipur to assess any contamination of the water from the streams. Preliminary reports of PHED have indicated that there is no damage to the potable water supply system, and the water quality is safe.

Moreover, additional water samples are being collected for detailed assessment by IIT Guwahati. An expert team of IIT Guwahati is also visiting Imphal.

In the meantime, in order to ensure the supply of potable water to the residents of Leimakhong area, as an interim measure, PHED, Manipur has started providing potable water by diversification of sources by boring tube-wells and accessing water supply through tanker among other measures.