Team Herald
VASCO: Panic gripped residents and commuters after a petroleum fuel pipeline connecting Mormugao Port was damaged at Dabolim Junction, allegedly during ongoing road works carried out by a highway contractor.
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As a precautionary measure, authorities temporarily closed the national highway to traffic, causing major congestion as vehicles were rerouted. Emergency services were placed on standby to prevent any potential disaster.
A major tragedy was averted as the damaged pipeline, belonging to Zuari Indian Oil Adani Ventures Private Limited (ZIAVPL), formerly known as Zuari Indian Oil Tanking Private Limited, was not in operation at the time of the incident. However, the escape of trapped air from the empty pipeline led to panic, with people in the vicinity mistakenly believing it to be a gas leak.
“The escaping air helped us locate the exact point of damage,” said Shriprasad Nayak, terminal manager of Zuari IAV Private Limited. He added that repairs would take three to four days and assured that there was no immediate threat to public safety. Nayak further clarified that the fuel supply would not be affected, as the terminal has enough reserves to last 10 to 15 days. A ship scheduled to dock at the port with fuel on Saturday will have its offloading deferred until the pipeline is restored.
Expressing frustration over repeated incidents of pipeline damage, Nayak criticized the contractor for negligence. “Had this happened during fuel transfer, it could have led to a catastrophe. That’s why we strictly halt excavation work during pumping operations. Despite multiple warnings to the contractor about the presence of our pipeline, such incidents continue to occur,” he lamented.
He further revealed that just two days prior, the company had sought police intervention to stop excavation work near the pipeline while pumping was underway. “Our security personnel were present at the site on Friday and tried to intervene, but the contractor’s workers claimed they had instructions to continue excavation. This kind of negligence could have cost lives,” Nayak said.
ZIAVPL has marked the pipeline’s location with cement poles and pits to avoid such mishaps, Nayak added.
Mormugao Mamlatdar Pravinjay Pandit, who rushed to the site, confirmed that precautionary measures had been taken and the immediate threat had been averted.
He stated that traffic was diverted via Chicalim and the Mega Mart road and would resume normal flow once authorities gave clearance.
Pandit also informed that he had secured a written assurance from ZIAVPL stating that the repair work posed no risk to residents or commuters. He further said that a meeting would be convened with the highway contractor to ensure better coordination and prevent such incidents in the future.
