Fear Of Oil Spill In Sea Sparks Panic In Odisha’s Paradip

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Paradip: Fear of oil slick sparked panic in Odisha’s port town Paradip on Saturday when an oily substance was found floating in the sea water.

According to sources, fishermen and local people of the town in Jagatsinghpur district found that the sea water had become more foamy and on oily substance of green colour floating in it. They apprehended oil spill from the refinery of IOCL plant and informed the company authorities.

Odisha Marine Fish Producers’ Association president Srikant Parida said he has visited the area on getting the information and found an oily substance along the stretch from IOCL to Gahirmatha.

But the IOCL ruled out any leakage from its oil refinery. “Our officials visited the spot and also inspected the plant thoroughly. We are assuring the people that there has been no leakage from the refinery,” said Om Prakash, general manager of IOCL.

Meanwhile, the officials of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) collected water samples from several places of the coast where the oily substance was found and sent those for laboratory test. OSPCB scientist Dibyalochan Mohapatra said the substance can be ascertained after getting the test report.