Manipur power station leak: Heavy fuel contaminates streams, govt orders urgent action

Manipur has recently asked all concerned departments to take immediate action after a massive leakage of fuel from the Leimakhong Power Station was reported. The fuel has split into the streams passing through Imphal Valley.

Fuel leakage in Manipur power plant

Several videos footage officials moving a stick into the fuel-laden stream following the leakage. In some places, there were even small ablaze in the stream.

In an order, the Manipur government said, “Leakage of heavy fuel from Leimakhong Power Station has been reported, leading to spillover of the discharge along streams passing through Kantosabal, Sekmai etc. The stream meets the Imphal River downstream by flowing through Khurkhul-Loitang-Kameng-Iroisemba-Nambul.”

Is there any action plan to prevent environmental calamity in Manipur? 

"All concerned are requested to take immediate necessary action to prevent an environmental calamity, making use of all available resources in terms of machinery, manpower and expertise," it said.

The state government said that response mechanisms and standard operating procedures for such events should be immediately activated.

"Deputy Commissioner (Imphal West) shall coordinate in the field until further instructions," it read.

Which officials visited Manipur power station leak spot?

Amid the heavy fuel leakage incident, Manipur Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei and Forest Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh visited the spot late last night.

This incident comes as Manipur continues to witness incidents of violence after ethnic clashes broke between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3 last year, claiming the lives of 180 people and thousands displaced so far.