Shri Ram Naik,
Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas has ordered an inquiry
into the fire incident that took place in the natural gas pipeline
of Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) in Andheri (East), Mumbai on
13th February, 2003. It was reported that a Telecom
Contractor while laying the cable through directional drilling
ruptured the MGL’s gas pipeline which caught fire causing panic
in the area.
The inquiry
will be conducted by a High Level Committee. Shri R.C. Gourh,
Director (Onshore), ONGC will be the Convenor of the Committee
and Shri P.V.R. Ayyar, ED, Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD)
will be the Member-Secretary. Shri B.S. Negi, Director (Planning),
GAIL and Shri S.C. Tandon, GM (POSD), EIL will be the other
Members of the Committee.
The Minister
has asked the Committee to inquire into the reasons and circumstances
leading to the fire, to assess the damage of the gas pipeline
and to fix up the responsibility. The Committee will also suggest
measures to implement the existing safety standards and to recommend
measures for crisis management in future. The Committee has
been asked to submit its report within 2 weeks.
