CM chairs meeting on oil spillage
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 12 2024: Chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday chaired a high level meeting to address the oil spillage incident along the streams in Leimakhong.

The meeting held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat was attended by the chief secretary Dr Vineet Joshi, IIT faculties, Indian Coast Guard and various department officials.

With swift response taken from the government side, the spill, spreading heavy fuel into streams, has now been effectively controlled.

An expert team has been formed to investigate the incident and conduct a comprehensive assessment of contamination and its impact on the surrounding areas.

Additional security measures have also been taken up as well.

It may be mentioned that leakage of heavy fuel from Leimakhong Power Station was reported on January 10, leading to spill over of the discharge along the stream passing through Kantosabal, Sekmai etc.

An FIR has been registered and the area sealed completely by deploying adequate security forces.

The expert investigation team led by ADG (Int) Ashutosh Siriha was constituted to as-' certain the cause of the incident.

The other members of the team are commissioner (Power) Shailesh Kumar Chourasia and additional secretary (Home) M Pradip Singh.

Meanwhile, In the backdrop of the spillage of furnace fuel from Leimakhong till Kanto Sabal on Wednesday night, chief minister N Biren Singh made a cryptic post on his social media, urging all to stay vigilant against ill-intentioned people.

In the post upload on his social media on Thursday evening, CM Biren recounted that he was having a discussion with MLA Shanti around 8.45pm Wednesday, when a video was forwarded to him (CM) of heavy spillage of fuel flowing in Kanto Sabal, Sekmai AC from a tributary in Leimakhong, which would lead to Sekmai, Nambul and Imphal rivers.

As the sudden spillage was suspicious, both SPs of Kangpokpi and Imphal West were informed.

After talking with OC Leimakhong police station, the suspicion deepened and he contacted MLA Dingo to advice the local pradhan to divert the spillage to a nearby held before it reaches the tributary.

A JCB (excavator) was utilised immediately and the diversion was carried out in the presence of the Sekmai OC.

Biren continued that the suspicion of foul play grew stronger and after reports confirmed the spillage from the power plant, ministers Dingo, Susindro and Th Biswajit went to the scene along with experts to check for any adulteration in the water sources.

Samples have been collected for further testing and cleaning works were carried out with the help of fire service personnel, locals and others.

Fortunately, after much effort from 8.45pm Wednesday till lam Thursday, the spillage was successfully diverted to the nearby held and the tributary saved.

Thus, the chief minister urged all concerned to be careful of people with ill intentions, while adding that the power plant is being guarded by state security forces.

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