GOVERNMENT SETS UP INQUIRY COMMITTEE ON SAFETY AND SECURITY ASPECTS OF ONGC'S OFFSHORE OPERATIONS

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Shri Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, has approved the setting up of an Independent Inquiry Committee to look into the safety and security related aspects of offshore operations of ONGC. Shri T. S. Vijayaraghavan, a former Secretary to Government of India in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas is the Chairman of the Committee. Shri Vijayaraghavan has also held the post of Secretary to Government of India in the Department of Defence Production and Department of Heavy Industry and Department of Public Enterprises. The other members are Maj. Gen. (Retd.) S.C.N. Jatar and Prof. Pritam Singh. Maj. Gen. Jatar has served the Corps of Engineers of Indian Army and is a former Chairman & Managing Director, of Oil India Limited. Prof. Pritam Singh, a management specialist and Padma Shri Awardee, has been Director of Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.

Shri Naik has outlined the following Terms of Reference for the Committee:-

1. Safety and Security of lives in Offshore Operations, especially air logistics.
2. Maintenance/ repairs / replacement of offshore installations, related infrastructures, pipelines, etc.
3. Hiring of helicopters, especially MI-172 helicopters, including the circumstances under which the ill fated helicopter was hired.
4. Adequacy of efforts made by ONGC in ensuring safety and security of personnel engaged in offshore operation.
5. Action taken on complaints/ grievances regarding safety matters, including condition of helicopters.
6. Any act of omission concerning items (i) to (v) above and the role of Management, if any, therein.
7. Both short and long term measures required in respects of above matters.

The Committee may consult such experts on technical issues as it may so decide. The Ministry will provide necessary secretarial assistance etc. to the Committee.

Shri Naik has asked the Committee to submit its report within a period of three months.

The committee has been set up in pursuance of a Suo Moto Statement made in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 13^th August, 2003 by Shri Ram Naik, on "Crash of a helicopter engaged by ONGC in Mumbai High on 11^th August, 2003".

With a view to instill a sense of confidence among employees who are ferried on helicopters chartered by ONGC, Shri Naik has also directed that inspection mechanism involving a third party inspection shall be put in place immediately. This will be done in consultation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)/ Airforce/ Navy inspection machinery in a fortnight.

Shri Ram Naik reiterated that the Government is committed to ensuring safety and security of lives of persons engaged in exploration and production of oil and gas as also the installations and assets deployed in such operations. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the requisite improvements would be carried out, he added.