Oil mafia behind fire at ONGC's ; Naik Saturday, November 10, 2001
News Source : Times News Network
PAKHAJAN (Bharuch district): Union petroleum minister Ram Naik on Friday said an "oil mafia" was operating in the region, and also hinted of a "conspiracy" in pilferage of oil from ONGC wells and pipelines.
Naik was here to inspect the fire at well no. 345 of the ONGC at its Gandhar oil field which has been raging since October 30. He also announced the setting up of a high-level inquiry which will also look into the "possible involvement of ONGC and other government officials."
"This fire has led us to believe that there is much more than what is
visible, and the issue is much bigger. The problems with petroleum products are not limited to adulteration alone," said Naik.
The minister added that if necessary, investigations in the oil racket may be handed over to CBI. "However, we are in no hurry to do this," Naik said, adding that he would request Chief Minister Narendra Modi to hand over the investigations to an officer of Inspector-General rank. "This is necessary to look into the criminal aspect of the incident and for proper investigations in the matter," he said.
Naik revealed that two of the five hoses used in pilfering oil from the well were found in the backyard of a 'dargah' near here. Three other hoses were fitted in the well by the miscreants to fill three tankers when the fire took place.
Meanwhile, Naik said that the high-level inquiry committee to be appointed would submit its report in three months. The committee will look into the reasons for the fire, as well as role of officers of ONGC and other agencies in the pilferage. Also, it would investigate the present fire-fighting measures at the oil field.
At a macro level, the committee will suggest means to improve the security and safety of ONGC properties across the country. "Several such properties exist across the country. We are taking this (Pakhajan fire) as a symbolic incident for the over-all review of security measures," Naik said.
He also said that international fire-fighting standards would be introduced at ONGC. "We will take all possible steps in this direction," Naik said.
In an oblique reference to terrorist activities, Naik said his ministry would co-ordinate with Coast Guard, home ministry and the defence ministry to ensure safety of its establishments on the coastline. "The coastline is sensitive, and several industries are located there," he said.
Naik said the present fire had caused ONGC a loss of Rs 5 crore. He said this included expenses incurred to extinguish the fire as well as production losses, the latter amounting to about Rs 12.5 lakh per day.
Naik added that the recent incident had shown that ONGC was technically capable of handling major fires. "There was no buck-passing. Complete cohesion was visible in the entire operation," Naik said.
Meanwhile, the fire at the well was extinguished on Friday morning by experts of ONGC's crisis management group. ONGC general manager (operations) A K Sood said the blaze was put off as the main valve of the Christmas tree apparatus on the well was functioning well. "The firemen could reach the apparatus once the temperature went down due to constant cooling. The valve was then turned off," he said.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Kumhars of matka capital busy making diyas for Diwali Saturday, November 10, 2001
News Source : Times News Network
VADODARA: It could well be termed Gujarat's 'matka capital'. But, as Diwali approaches, the kumhars of Wadu, about 30 km from here, get busy making diyas rather than what they are known for in far of places _ their special matkas.
This little village of about 60 kumhar families, who have been handed down the tradition of making matkas for generations, produces about 30,000 matkas per house every day.
But, come Diwali, and the potter's wheel churns out diyas of many shapes and sizes to light up homes across the state.
What has made Wadu famous is the quality of its clay that makes its matkas and diyas stand apart. "We get our mati from the village pond which is of a very good quality. We have been using this clay for ages and kumhars from other villages are not allowed to take clay from our pond," says Manilal Prajapati, the busiest kumhar in Wadu.
Manilal's telephone does not seem to stop ringing as orders pour in from as far as Surat, Valsad and Billimora. The kumhars work for eight months at a stretch starting from the Ganpati festival. The making of matkas and diyas include an arduous process of getting shaping the clay on the potter's wheel, firing it in the bhatti and giving it a coat of colour.
The kumhars of Wadu fiercely guard their pond, as the clay from it 'fetches them their daily bread'.
"Documents were given by the Gaekwads to our ancestors to protect the pond. The documents say that the pond cannot be closed down for any reason and its clay is to be used by the kumhars of the Wadu. This was done to provide us a source of income. We don't even pay for the clay that we dig out. The only expenditure we incur is that of carrying the clay from the pond to the workshops in the backyards of our houses," says Manilal.
"The matka business fetches us about Rs 15 to Rs 20 lakh a year and our matkas are much sought after in Maharashtra too," he says.
"The clay here is definitely much different from what you find in other places. For example, the clay in Halol is more sandy. The colours we use also make our products attractive," adds Manilal.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
Govt gears up to tackle water shortage Saturday, November 10, 2001
News Source : Times News Network
GANDHINAGAR: Water resources minister Narottam Patel on Thursday said the government had taken adequate measures to tackle water shortage in Saurashtra and North Gujarat regions which didn't receive the last spell of monsoon.
Speaking to mediapersons here, Patel said the government had sanctioned Rs 800 crore for laying drinking water pipelines in the worst-affected Rajkot and Jamnagar districts. They would be supplied 500 MLD water from the Narmada canal utilising the pumping station at Maliya branch of the Saurashtra canal.
According to the plan worked out by the department, water would be supplied to several villages and towns in Morbi, Maliya, Dhrol, and Jodia talukas of the region. Work on laying the pipeline is on. The Narmada waters will be released into the canal only in March. At present, drinking water is being made available from existing water supply schemes.
Patel, who reviewed the water supply position with officials, said Chief Minister Modi would perform the stone-laying ceremony of the main stretch of the pipeline at Morbi on November 10.
When asked about water crisis looming large over North Gujarat, Patel said work on water supply schemes sourced from Dharoi dam had been completed and the first phase of the scheme would be launched in the presence of Modi on November 20. Under this project more than 375 villages and 13 towns and cities of North Gujarat would be supplied water through this new network.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
'Vadodara is an oil racket hub' Saturday, November 10, 2001
News Source : Times News Network
PAKHAJAN (Bharuch district): Bharuch police on Friday said Vadodara might be the hub of an illegal oil racket operating in the area. The role of at least 15 persons has also been indicated in the matter.
Speaking to newspersons, in the presence of Union petroleum minister Ram Naik, officers of Bharuch police said three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, while four others are being interrogated.
According to police, a conspiracy in the matter is very evident. "The brain behind this conspiracy was one Ghanshyam Pandya, a junior technician with ONGC. He died on the spot when the fire broke out," an official said.
DNA samples from Pandya's body and that of his relatives have been collected. This, the officers said, had been done as the relatives refused to acknowledge Pandya's death.
Equipment for the pilferage was manufactured in Jambusar. An ironsmith there had manufactured the spanner used to open the well valve. The police has identified him and has also recovered the Tata Sumo used during the pilferage operation.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
NID prof wins national award Saturday, November 10, 2001
News Source : Times News Network
AHMEDABAD: Principal designer at the National Institute of Design's (NID) industrial design faculty, S Balaram has been selected for the NCPEDP-SHELL Helen Keller Award 2001. He was selected by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled Persons (NCPEDP) as an 'individual outside the disability sector who has been active in promoting the cause of employment for persons with disabilities'.
NCPEDP is supported by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation with Sonia Gandhi as its chairperson. She will present the award to Balaram on December 2, marked as World Disability Day. The award comprises of a medal and a citation. Articles by the winner will also be published in a book to be released at the function.
Balaram is known for his strong views on using design for the common man. He also believes in using the innovative power of design to help disabled persons. He was instrumental in making the ground floor of the institute more friendly to such persons, like providing special ramps for wheel chairs, during a national seminar on design for disability in 1999.
News Source : The Times of India [India's best Newspaper]
