Barmer Crude Oil Leak: Amid a buzz over the launch of oil refinery in Rajasthan's Barmer, a report of crude oil leak left locals stressed. The unexpected leak on a farmer’s land, over the past three days, turned a portion of the field into a virtual river of oil.
Reports said that the oil spilled across the farmland, leading to an environmental and economic crisis for the affected family.
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Barmer Oil Leak: Who Is To Be Blamed?
The incident occurred at around 12 noon on Monday on the land of Harjiram Khoth, located near Wellpad No. 8 in the Kawas area. What started as a sudden eruption of crude from the ground quickly escalated, covering nearly an acre of land. Despite the concerned oil company’s claims that all connected pipelines were shut down immediately, the leak has persisted into its third day.
In a desperate bid to contain the spill, technical teams dug a 100-meter-long trench to divert the flowing crude into a temporary pit. From there, vacuum pumps have been working non-stop to transfer the oil into tankers. Shockingly, more than 50 trucks have already been filled and transported from the site, yet the ground continues to ooze oil.
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Farmer Demands Compensation For His Damage
The impact on the farmer has been devastating. Harjiram Khoth reported that his standing crops are destroyed and the soil has been rendered infertile for the foreseeable future. He further alleged that past activities and underground blasts by oil companies have previously damaged local homes and water tanks. As engineers struggle to identify exact source of leak, the farmer has demanded immediate compensation for his destroyed livelihood and long-term damage to his land.
The local administration is now closely monitoring the situation as the persistent leak raises serious questions about the integrity of the underground infrastructure. Meanwhile, neighboring villagers remain on high alert, fearing that the oil could seep into the local groundwater table and cause a larger ecological disaster.