Refinery management yet to trace reason for foul smell

It also said that in future,the refinery management will plan guided tours of the refinery for farmers from the affected villages so that they can check for themselves the working of the refinery and the measures being taken by the staff.

Krishan Tuteja,vice-president,operations,Bathinda refinery,said,“Educational tours for the villagers inside the refinery will be planned shortly. We want to re-build our relationships with the villagers.”

To start with,the management is ready to give employment to trained workers from these villages and is also looking to hire from colleges in Moga,Bathinda and adjoining areas.

“We don’t want the villagers to move out. We have no plans to expand our operations outside the refinery boundary,so the villagers should give a second thought before relocating,” Tuteja added.

Incidentally,even as the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has clarified that gases such as sulphar dioxide,hydrogen sulphide were found present in the air in the villages and blamed hydrogen sulphide,present within permissible limits,for the foul smell in the area,Tuteja said,“We have no idea as of now as to what is the reason for the foul smell.”

He said it may be “because of hydrogen sulphide,the treated water from effluent treatment plant or the caustic treatment not being tackled properly.”

“We are looking into all aspects and the problem is not so grave. The smell may have emanated once in a while,but we will control even that,” he said,adding that the complaints from the villagers have dropped

The villagers of Kanakwal,meanwhile,are adamant to shift out and did not participate in the recent panchayat elections. They they are presently looking for new locations as is being shown by the officials.

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