Uran oil leak leaves fishermen seeking compensation

Residents of Uran, India, are calling for compensation for their loss of trade following an oil leak that has meant they are unable to fish in the area for the time being. The leak occurred on Sunday evening (October 6th) when a pipeline at the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (OMGC) Uran plant ruptured.

Around 5,000 litres of crude oil spilled from the pipeline, with some of it leaking into the Arabian Sea along a ten kilometre stretch. The oil has caused water pollution and has coated parts of the coastline, meaning that no fishing can take place while clean-up efforts are ongoing.

A grey-black film was visible on the water and has affected a number of villages including Danda, Karanja, Pirwadi and Kegaon. Authorities have said that clean-up work will only take a few days and any damage to the sea or coastlines is negligible. There is little expected of the leak causing any lasting damage.

According to the ONGC, the leak was caused when the plant experienced a power failure on Sunday evening. The failure was caused by the machines tripping and knocked out all equipment. As a result pressure increased in the trunk pipe that carries both oil and gas, causing a two inch drainage line to rupture and the oil to leak. 

The company has submitted a report to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), which estimates that 5,000 litres has leaked with between 1,000 and 2,000 litres making its way into the sea. However MPCB officials have suggested that more than these estimates may have made it into the sea, judging from the extent of the oil sheen.

Kishor Kirlikar, an MPCB official, told the Times of India: "Samples of polluted water from various spots along the Uran coast have been collected. We have checked the measures taken by the company - the clamping of the drainage pipeline and the plugging of the leak. 

"After 11.30am on Monday, there was no leak. Whatever spill took place happened on Sunday night. The ONGC's plant in-charge S K Pathak said that about 2,000 litres of crude oil leaked. We suspect the quantity could be higher."