ONGC steps up Special Protection Force vigil along pipelines

Rajhmundry: Patrolling teams of the Special Protection Force have intensified their vigil along the installations, wells and major pipeline units of the ONGC.

ONGC asset executive director P.K. Rao said the SPF teams are patrolling along the pipeline in East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts in the aftermath of the Nagaram explosion.

Mr Rao said, “The total length of pipelines maintained by ONGC is around 740 km. The pipelines are not old. We have replaced around 500-km stretch recently, and we have plans in next few years to replace the remaining 284 km of pipeline. Our revenue teams are in negotiations with the farmers as the pipelines are laid under the ground. On getting an approval from the farmers, we will replace the lines. This process will be taken up during the non-crop season in summer.”

Apart from the SPF, CISF personnel, ONGC security staff and private security guards are appointed at the installations. A three-tier safety monitoring system in addition to the existing one has been rolled out.