Herald: How much did ZIOTL actually spend after the naphtha fire and why are people still complaining that ZIOTL gave false promises?
H C Shah: ZIOTL has spent nothing less than Rs 5 crore, which includes Rs 60 lakh as compensation to family members of five people (Rs 10 lakh each), another Rs 10 lakh as annuity to Digambar Palyekar who lost both sons. Besides this we never rejected any bills produced by the leaders who claimed that they provided food packets to the people. Then we paid Rs 1.5 crore as compensation at Rs 2 lakh each to 75 people who claimed that they lost their belongings (by way of theft) during the panic situation after the fire. Similarly we have paid Rs 5 lakh to 11 families as damages to houses and loss of property and Rs 61.68 lakh to five people for reconstruction of houses damaged in fire. Thus, from medical bills
to other food bills and other expenses the total money spent by ZIOL comes up to around Rs 5 crore. About the false promises, we never said we would give jobs, but we always said that we would support the family by refunding medical bills produced by the family of injured.
Herald: What has ZIOTL learnt from the fire?
ZIOTL Official: First, we have stopped pumping naphtha from the pipeline as Zuari Industries which was our consumer for naphtha has switched over to natural gas. Similarly all the orders of the South Goa Collector have been complied with and we now have foolproof security where four security guards continuously patrolling the pipeline. The frequency is increased during pumping of kerosene, diesel and petrol.
Herald: Is your underground oil pipeline safe?
ZIOTL Official: Yes the pipeline is very safe as recently a health check of the pipeline was conducted by external agencies and all the recommended areas have been sleeved beside we have a GPS system
along the pipeline route and the agency gave positive reports on the condition of pipeline. As recommended we have shifted our pipeline away from the NHAI road alignment. However, there are some issues of encroachments over the pipeline for which we have already made several letters to the Mormugao deputy collector and are hopeful they will take action against the encroachers.
