The police have registered a case, another case under the Factories and Boilers Act has also been registered against the HPCL.
Published Dec 06, 2024 | 6:20 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 06, 2024 | 6:20 PM
The leakage has intensified calls for stricter safety measures and relocation to prevent such incidents in the future. Pictured, fuel tanks at the Elathur railway station. (Wikimedia Commons)
A longstanding demand for relocating a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) depot from Elathur in Kozhikode has gathered steam after a major diesel leak caused significant environmental and health concerns.
Initial estimates said approximately 1,500 liters of diesel have spilled into the surrounding areas.
It is feared that the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 4 December, has led to severe soil and water pollution, with the fuel contaminating two nearby streams and reaching the shores of a nearby river.
Kozhikode District Administration has held HPCL accountable for the incident, citing mechanical or electronic failure as the likely cause.
“The primary issue now is pollution, but this could have escalated into a serious hazard. Fortunately, it did not. HPCL is responsible for this incident, and there is no doubt about that. They should have been more vigilant,” a district administration official said.
Efforts are underway to contain the damage, with HPCL tasked with cleaning the contaminated water bodies and addressing soil pollution.
The cleanup is being carried out with a chemical substance, being procured from Mumbai.
While the police have registered a case, another case under the Factories and Boilers Act has also been registered against the HPCL.
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) is also said to assess the compensation HPCL must pay for the environmental damage.
“The PCB is collecting samples, and the full extent of the pollution is being assessed,” the official added.
The leakage caused panic among Elathur residents as the strong smell of diesel spread over a wide area.
Several residents reported respiratory issues, with three children hospitalized due to the fumes.
Residents miffed
According to Manoharan, councillor, Elathur ward, the residents near the depot have dealt with the stench of fuel for years, but this large-scale leak has made it unbearable.
“Children, elderly, those having allergy issues and asthma are the worst affected ones,” Manoharan told South First.
At the same time, he criticised HPCL for failing to adhere to safety protocols.
“They failed miserably in ensuring the safety of residents. While minor leaks have occurred in the past, an incident of this severity is unprecedented. The Kozhikode Corporation unanimously passed a resolution demanding the relocation of the depot to an area with less population density, but no action has been taken,” Manoharan said.
He, however, added that residents suffering from allergies and respiratory problems have not been relocated, as they want to stay there with the hope that the situation will get better.
The HPCL depot, located along the national highway, has been a longstanding source of complaints from the local community.
The recent leakage has intensified calls for stricter safety measures and relocation to prevent such incidents in the future.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
