Paradip: Mindless laying of underground pipelines for various industrial projects here in Jagatsinghpur district has overburdened the earth and has affected the local environment.
This has resulted in a rise in pollution level and depletion of the groundwater level as the whole port town now stands on the pipelines laid down by various industrial houses.
Various industrial houses transport oil, gas, water and various raw materials including power transmission by laying underground cables and pipelines in the area.
Laying of pipelines has also resulted in destruction of green cover and wiping out of 68 types of grass from the earth’s surface, nature activist Ayaskant Ray said. This has happened as no trees can be planted within 10 km radius on both sides of the pipelines as trees will prove obstruction during repairing works.
The pipelines intersecting each other at various points have also spelled trouble for aquatic creatures. This was evident after miscreants made holes in the pipelines of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) refinery project to steal oil in past.
The oil spilled from the pipelines flowed into the nearby river and resulted in the death of various types of aquatic creatures.
Industrial houses are opting for underground pipelines as they are safe and cost-effective. They also do not require much space on the earth surface. However, laying of such pipelines has endangered the lives of future generations as it might lead to serious environmental complications, observers claimed.
Sources said the ground beneath the port town is filled with underground pipelines of IOCL oil refinery, oil terminals of three public sector firms, and pipelines of various industrial houses. The Paradip- Haladia-Baureni underground pipeline is extended up to a distance of 1,302 km while the Paradip- Ranchi-Raipur covers a distance of 1108 km.
Similarly, the underground pipeline of SPM of the oil refinery (single point moring system) extends from its plant site to the sea.
The four-layered pipelines from three oil terminals to the oil jetty pass through river Kaudia and mangrove forests. The IOCL oil refinery transports refined oil to ships through the underground pipeline across the sea beach. All types of acid, phosphorus, ammonia, sulphuric acid of plant Paradip Phospates Ltd and IFFCO are transported through underground pipelines.
Gas is also being transported to gas terminal through pipelines.
An edible oil manufacturing company Kargil India Ltd, which is now shut down, used to transport palm oil and oil-based products through underground pipelines.
This apart, drinking water, power and telephone connection is now supplied to various residential colonies through underground pipelines. PNN