Petrol contaminated water in Kanekere wells

• Wells emptied and sealed

Ullal: The oily, combustible substance which some wells located at Kanekere near Deralakatte in Belma village yielded has been identified to be petrol. However, the cause behind the singular phenomenon remains to be ascertained. Meanwhile, water from the affected wells was completely pumped out and were covered with tarpaulin and sealed on Thursday November 15^th.

The incident

A week back, oily substance was found to have been mixed with the water in three wells at Kanere. As the incident was gaining publicity in the media, officials of the panchayat, health and environment came to the spot and undertook inspection. Samples of the water were taken away for tests following which, the allegation of petrol leak from a petrol station located at a higher altitude in the vicinity were debunked. The district in-charge minister, U T Khader visited the spot after returning from visit to a foreign destination and instructed officials to empty the wells and conduct verification.

Consequently, the panchayat administration initiated the process 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 ascertained that the oil content was more than water in them. A few villagers also collected samples of the red and white colour water, springing into the bottom of the well.

the environment and health department officials also collected the new 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. 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, informed  Rajashekhar Puranik, department of environment official.