Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 9: In the backdrop of complaints of petrol getting leaked into wells at Kanekere located at a lower level, the petrol bunk which the locals hold responsible for the phenomenon, suspended its operations for a day.
Since the last two days, oil slick was found in certain wells in the first ward, Kanere, in Belma gram panchayat. The liquid was found to be highly combustible and caught fire when lighted. After the incident got lot of public attention because of media reports on Thursday, curious people had reached the spot in large numbers on Thursday. While some people said that petrol from the bunk located 150 metres above Kanekere is responsible for this phenomenon, some others felt that effluents from toilets of private buildings nearby were getting released into the wells.
Fire brigade personnel also reached the spot on Thursday. Petrol distribution officer of Indian Oil, Gautham, arrived at the petrol bunk and confirmed that the bunk was not to be blamed for this phenomenon. Belma gram panchayat vice president, B M Sattar, asked the petrol bunk to be kept closed till a proper solution for the problem could be found. The petrol bunk agreed to close operations since 1 pm on Thursday to 1 pm on Friday, after which stock would be assessed to find whether there is any leakage from here.
Bunk owner, Seetharam Shetty, said that they have been checking the quantity of petroleum products everyday and there is no possibility of any mistakes on their part.