Paradip, March 26: Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has directed Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to put in place a foolproof mechanism to check frequent leakages in its refined oil pipelines that pollute nearby water bodies.

Consequently, the IOCL has initiated a process to install optical fibre pipelines.

Pipelines used to transport petrol, diesel and kerosene were found to have leaked at least on five occasions in the past 18 months. Though the OSPCB had earlier issued directions to the IOCL asking it to stop recurrence of such incidents, the leakages continued to occur. The frequent oil leakages have been a constant reason of water pollution on the outskirts of the port town.

"We have asked the oil company to install optical fibre pipelines that can easily detect leakage points," said a senior OSPCB official.

Ruptures are being frequently reported on a 11-kilometre pipeline stretch that carries refined petroleum products from north oil jetty to the IOCL's oil terminal. The pipes, which were installed around three decades ago, have become rusted and prone to leakage.

"We have directed the pipeline division officials of the IOCL to install optical fibre pipes for easy detection of leakage points so that contamination of water bodies due to oil spill can be curbed," said OSPCB regional officer Prasant Kumar Kar.

An official of the IOCL's pipeline division, however, said their pipes were not to be blamed for the ruptures. Local goons, who are operating spurious oil rackets, rupture the pipelines intentionally to steal oil. The company has taken up the matter with the police.

"Many people have been arrested for this," said the officer, adding that they had initiated a process to install optical fibre pipelines.

"We have initiated pre-emptive measures to curb oil theft. We have arrested several persons who were found damaging pipelines to extract oil. We have also stepped up patrolling in areas along the pipeline," said additional police superintendent Madhabanand Sahu.