Odisha Congress seeks a timeline for Chandikhol Crude Oil Storage Project

Addressing a press conference, senior Congress spokesperson and research analyst Jagadananda Pradhan said the project, originally conceived during the UPA government led by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, has been repeatedly used as an electoral issue without any tangible progress on the ground.

Pradhan said the Chandikhol project is proposed to have a storage capacity of nearly 30 million barrels of crude oil.

While the government has projected employment opportunities for around 5,000 people after the project becomes operational, he claimed the actual employment potential could be between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs.

The Congress questioned the steps taken by the government for compensation, rehabilitation and employment of people likely to be displaced or affected by the project.

Alleging negligence by the present NDA government, Pradhan claimed that no new crude oil storage capacity has been created in the country during the last eleven years and asserted that all existing strategic crude oil storage facilities were established during the Congress-led UPA regime.

He said the UPA government had already initiated expansion projects at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Padur, with a combined storage capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes, but alleged that the NDA government has failed to complete those projects.

According to Pradhan, the process for the Chandikhol crude oil storage project had already begun in 2013 after submission of the feasibility report during the Congress regime.

He alleged that toxic substances such as benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene present in crude oil could pollute underground water sources and cause serious health hazards. He also cautioned against the possible emission of methane and hydrogen sulphide gases from excessive crude oil storage.

The Congress further accused the government of lacking sincerity in generating employment opportunities for Odisha’s youth and alleged that Odisha’s natural resources are being handed over to private industries at throwaway prices.

The party also alleged that protests in industrial areas are being suppressed through police action to protect the interests of private companies.

Demanding immediate action, the Congress said 8,000 to 10,000 youths from displaced and nearby areas should be provided employment in the Chandikhol project. It also sought priority for local transport operators, adequate compensation for displaced families and effective rehabilitation measures.

The party further demanded strict implementation of pollution control norms and urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to review the existing safety regulations for underground petroleum storage projects in view of the environmental and safety risks involved.

Pradhan reiterated the demand that both the Central and Odisha governments should announce a clear timeline for the commencement of the Chandikhol crude oil storage project without any further delay.