Even as the fuel contamination in wells and water bodies at Matvem-Dabolim continues to be a major challenge, it is learnt that the oil tanking company has voiced doubts that there is a major leakage in the pipeline. If that be the case then Mormugao and Vasco are virtually sitting on a ticking time-bomb. It is learnt that the pipeline is about two decades old. Finding a leakage in the 14-km long pipeline must be considered a mammoth task. In the past there have been instances of pilferage of fuel passing through the pipeline with a separate pipeline being used to divert the flow of the petroleum product. Panic gripped residents of Alto-Dabolim in 2010 after news spread that a pilferage tapping connection was found to the pipeline that supplies inflammable fuel, naphtha and petrol. It may be recalled that the first major oil pilferage racket was busted in 2002 at the IOC depot. If any negligence occurs when oil is being siphoned off, then certainly it could lead to a major disaster. Police need to investigate all the possible angles in the pipeline leakage at Matvem-Dabolim including pilferage.
