Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 16: It has been established that the oily, combustible substance which some wells located at Kanekere near Deralakatte in Belma village yielded, was petrol. However, cause of this peculiar phenomenon has not yet been established. In the meanwhile, water from these wells were completely pumped out on Thursday November 15. All the three wells where this strange phenomenon was found, have been covered with tarpaulin and sealed.
Oily substance was found to have been mixed with the water in three wells at Kanere a week back. The incident got wide publicity in the media after which officials of the panchayat, health and environment came to the spot and undertook inspection. Samples from the well were taken away, and it was confirmed that petrol leak was not from the petrol bunk located near the area on a higher altitude. Minister, U T Khader, on his return from visit to foreign destination, had visited the village and instructed officials to empty the wells and conduct verification.
The panchayat administration got into the task of emptying the well water since the last two days. The task was completed by Thursday evening. When the fresh water oozing into well thereafter was checked, it was also found to smell like petrol. The water was then filled into bottles. It was found that oil content was more than water in them. A few villagers also collected samples of the red and white colour water which was found to be springing into the bottom of the well.
Officials of the department of environment and health also collected fresh samples. Under the instructions of the department, village accountant, Poornachandra Tejaswvi, took the three wells into the possession of the department and barred use of these wells by the public. Official of the department of environment, Rajashekhar Puranik, said that the water sample now collected will again be tested at the laboratory of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and report of the laboratory will be studied.
Belma gram panchayat vice president, Abdul Sattar, members, Razack and Sathish, panchayat development officer, Naveen Hegde and others were involved with the operation lasting two days.