There was a major scare in Matvem, Dabolim after a well was found to be contaminated with petroleum products and was later sealed by the authorities. The water drawn from the well caught fire when it was tested by locals. It is understood that the water from the wells was smelling of petrol for the past seven days. The local panch at Matvem-Dabolim has claimed that six wells, some bore wells and a natural spring in the area have been contaminated with a petroleum product. It may be recalled that in August 2011 Vasco was hit by a major fire in the naval area at Varunapuri in Mangor, due to a suspected naphtha leak. More than 200 persons were evacuated from the navy's residential quarters. Five persons were injured. Fourteen fire tenders fought the fire with chemical foam for several hours.. The present incident of well water being contaminated with petroleum products is a very serious matter. There could be a leakage in the fuel pipelines of the oil terminal companies which has to be detected and the pipeline repaired. One does not want a repeat of the 2011 fire incident.
