IOC replies to Borbil incident
Digboi   04-Nov-2010

"Effective Pollution control and Safety Management has always been on top priority in the history of the Oldest Oil Refinery of Digboi" stated Tarun Chandra Sharma the Chief Administrative Manager of IndianOil Digboi during an interaction with the media-persons held at the IOC (AOD) Administrative Complex here this evening. Countering the allegations of the residents of Borbil No 3 of Digboi that it was not the deadly discharge of the refinery which is responsible for killing huge fishes besides causing nuisance to the local people of Borbil.  It may be  recalled here that earlier of October 30 the people Borbil no 2 of Digboi had alleged that the poisonous intoxicants which according to them had been released from Digboi refinery had killed huge fishes in a rivulet which passes through the village beside releasing fowl smelling gas into the air disturbing their night's sleep. Justifying on behalf of the refinery authority Sharma told that the media-persons that when the incident occurred on the evening of October 29 the refinery had already been shut down on technical ground. So, according to him no discharge can be released thereby. Besides, the sample layer collected from the place of occurrence also reveals that the layer was oil-free. He told that the people residing in the close proximity of Refinery and the drains passing through these residential areas before joining the main drain at Borbil did not experience any fowl smell nor any fishes died there. He told with confident that Digboi refinery is in no way responsible for the incident concerned and said that if necessary the authority can go to the extent of forensic investigation to prove the points. However, stating the incident as unfortunate he told that it must have been a wicked piece of some miscreants who might have released into the rivulet some deadliest soluble poisonous substance like pesticides etc with destructive attitudes. He informed that all the affluent of the refineries though not poisonous are treated at the affluent treatment plant before finally releasing them into the drain which penetrating through the Borbil Village reaches the destination at Lakhipather Tinali. He told The Sentinel that the Corporation has been contributing immensely from time to time to make Digboi a Pollution Free Zone in the region and shall strive continuously to fulfil the commitment to nature and society for the greater interest.