by Sudip Sharma Chowdhury 

GUWAHATI :In Assam, a fire broke out in the pipeline of Oil India Limited on Digboi-Duliajan Road near Dheing-Patkai National Park in Dibrugarh. Oil officials rushed to the spot after receiving the news and controlled it.

The pipeline is connected to the nearby Jurajan Oil Collecting Station inside the newly notified Dheing-Patkai National Park. Devojit Moran, a local environmentalist in the area, shot a video of the fire and later alerted residents and OIL officials. Moran said “Dheing-Patkai National Park had faced serious threat due to such leakage on several occasions in the past. “There is a serious threat to the biodiversity of the national park condensed by gas and pipelines.” Moran said OIL has started drilling around a small river inside The Dheing-Patkai National Park, posing a serious threat to the surrounding area, where elephants move.Moran alleged that “elephants have stopped coming to the site since drilling started.”

According to sources, oil theft is a major issue in Tinsukia district and thieves often damage oil pipelines and steal condensated oil. Recently, Tinsukia police had seized more than 200 gallons of condensatfrom the area. “Security is a major issue in The Dheing-Patkai National Park. Oil India Limited, Tinsukia police and forest officials to investigate the case to prevent such nefarious activities