Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery causing pollution in nearby villages: Residents
KARNAL : Residents of villages located around Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s Panipat refinery alleged that the emission and liquid discharge from the factory is causing air and water pollution in their area. They alleged that this is putting the lives of people living in Sithana, Singhpura, Bal Jattan, Bohali and Dadlana villages at risk.
“The air in our village was already polluted but now the impact is also being seen on water as it colour and taste has changed,” said Sunil Kumar, who runs a dhaba at the gate of refinery.
When asked if they had got the air and water examined, he said, “It is the government’s duty to ensure that every citizen gets fresh air and clean drinking water but nobody cares about health of thousands of people living in these villages.” repeated complaints of air and water pollution by villagers.”
Following this, the NGT had constituted a joint inspection team, comprising representatives of the central pollution control board, Haryana state pollution control board and Panipat deputy commissioner, to carry out inspections.
As per information, the inspection team, in which the state pollution control board is the nodal agency, has submitted its report to the NGT. The NGT has fixed February 5 for the next hearing in the case.
Though officials in the pollution control board refused to give any information about the findings of their inspection, sources confirmed that the team has highlighted in the report that the issues being raised by the people were true to some extent.
The sources further revealed that the inspection team also recommended action against the owners of the service stations around the refinery as these service stations wash hundreds of truck that ferry chemicals and fuel but do not have proper waste water management system.
However, allegations that the refinery’s analysers were not functioning were found to be untrue.