A public hearing meeting was held in Bhitara Gada village near Bauria Palanda on the Paradip town outskirts for establishment of an lPG terminal by the Indian Oil Corporation ltd (IOCl) in the vicinity of the oil terminals of the IOCl, HPCl and the BPCl.
Paradip ADM Biswajeet Biswal, Odisha State Pollution Control Board’s Dr Mukesh Mahalingam and IOCl officials were present.
However, villagers, environmentalists and elected people’s representatives strongly opposed the proposed terminal stating that pollution and other problems would harm human lives and the nature. Paradip Municipality Chairman Basanta Kumar Biswal alleged that the IOCl is not taking any measures to curb the pollution created by its refinery, which is emitting Naptha gas and causing respiratory problems.
He alleged that the IOCl is establishing various projects without discharging Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
He and others alleged that the leakage of oil from pipelines has polluted water in different rivers, soil and also air.
“This terminal will be highly inflammable project near to the Oil terminals. It will pose life threats for people of the locality,” alleged villagers.
Members of 13 local organisations, environmentalists and villagers presented 30 applications signed by thousands of locals to the officials opposing the lPG terminal. In spite of the protest, the hearing was held by the officials.