By Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, May 15: The diesel leakage in the Mangaluru–Bengaluru high pressure pipeline belonging to PMHBL near Allaru of Panjukallu grama on Wednesday May 13 has caused heated arguments between the villagers and the company officials. Two separate cases have been registered in Bantwal rural police station in this connection.

Rajan, the Mangaluru official of the company, in his complaint to the police station, expressed his suspicion that the hole was pierced to steal diesel from the pipeline. The official recalled similar incidents that have occurred in the past and requested the police to conduct an investigation in this regard.

Meanwhile, the villagers have submitted a public interest petition expressing their apprehension about pollution due to the leakage of diesel and urged legal action against the company.

A press release by the company stated that the diesel leakage has been repaired by a team of MRPL and PMHBL company experts. The leakage occurred due to explosion from excessive pressure in the pipeline when the diesel was flowing through it. The anxious villagers had telephoned customer care telephone numbers and a team of MRPL and PMHBL experts who arrived at the place soon afterwards, identified the spot and conducted repairs, stated the press release.