GUJAR KHAN: Spillage of waste crude oil and chemicals from Ahdi oil fields is not only contaminating Nirali Dam but also polluting underground water around the reservoir.

Umair Arif Malik, a resident of Nirali village, told Dawn that spillage of chemicals and crude oil from the oil fields was verbally reported to the authorities of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) about a month ago but the concerns of the residents went unheeded. Following the recent rains, the chemicals flowed into the dam by the Punjab government, he added.

Mr Malik claimed that not only the reservoir but also underground water had been contaminated.

According to him, the issue came to light when residents of adjoining localities of Nirali village suffered intestinal diseases after drinking water from wells and tubewells in their houses.

Mr Malik said he got the water samples tested from a lab in Shahzad Town in Islamabad and the result showed the water unfit for human consumption.

The residents of the village lodged a complaint with Assistant Commissioner Gujar Khan Hira Rizwan. According to sources, Ms Rizwan visited the area and PPL Islamabad general manager Abid Ashfaque Malik also reached Nirali.

Chemicals from Ahdi oil fields also polluting underground water, residents claim

Ms Rizwan told Dawn that she and Mr Malik visited all the affected areas, including the dam. She said authorities at the oil field had been given seven days deadline to readdress the issue.

The assistant commissioner said after seven days she would hold an open forum in the locality to get feedback from the residents.

When contacted, the top management of the PPL in its Karachi headquarters through an email said: “This is to let you know that Pakistan Petroleum Limited is aware of the matter and Punjab Environmental Protection Agency has been informed accordingly.

“As a responsible national company, PPL is undertaking immediate remedial measures in collaboration with the concerned authorities which are as follows:

Containment of damage to already affected area is in progress. Access of third parties including locals to the affected area has been restricted. Recovery of oily water is in progress. Third party specialist cleanup and disposal company has been mobilised and work is in progress.

As part of our internal protocols, an investigation into the matter has also been launched and is in progress.”

Meanwhile, the residents demanded that clean drinking water through PPL tankers should be provided to them as an interim arrangement. As a long-term arrangement, they said, a water supply system and filtration plants should be installed in Nirali and other adjoining localities such as Dhoke Budhaal.

The residents also urged the PPL authorities to ensure safe disposal of the slush and other waste material.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2020