Manipur CM chairs high-level meet on oil spillage

IMPHAL — Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, chaired a high-level meeting on addressing the oil spillage incident along the streams in Leimakhong on the outskirts of Imphal.

According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Friday night, the meeting, which was held at the Secretariat, was attended by the chief secretary, Dr. Vineet Joshi, IIT faculty members, Indian Coast Guards and various department officials.

“With swift response taken from the government side, the spill, spreading heavy fuel into streams, has now been effectively controlled,” the release said, adding that 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, it stated.

The expert investigation team, led by the Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), Ashutosh Sinha, was constituted to ascertain the cause of the incident and submit the report within 15 days. The other members of the team are Commissioner of Power Shailesh Kumar Chourasia and Additional Secretary of Home, M Pradip Singh.

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 is also being completely sealed by deputing adequate security forces, it added.

Confirming the development, the police department, in a statement on Friday night, said, “On 11.01.2024, officials of MSPCL (Manipur State Power Company Ltd) lodged a written complaint regarding incidents of theft and burglary at Heavy Fuel Based Power Plant (HEBPP) and Hydro Power Plant House Leimakhong, MSPDCL, Manipur."

“The perpetrators had also caused spillage of heavy oil, leading to an unceasing release of oil into the nearby river, which has posed a significant threat to the public water supply by contaminating the river water and creating a hazardous environmental situation. A zero FIR has been registered at Sekmai Police Station and security forces are making all efforts to identify and arrest the accused persons," it added.

Meanwhile, sharing the photographs of the high-level meeting on his official X (formerly Twitter), Biren Singh wrote, “The spill, spreading heavy fuel into streams, has now been effectively controlled.”