Sivasagar, May 17: An oil spill from an ONGC pipeline has polluted a large area of Rudrasagar in Sivasagar district, including the Puroni Pukhuri tank and a canal that flows into the Dikhow, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.

The leak occurred a few days ago, but the local authorities and ONGC initially paid no heed. The firm took some measures to check the spill only after the residents protested.

The spill has spread from Puroni Pukhuri to Jerenga Pathar and polluted the water.

A member of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Manojit Das, alleged that the fish in the canal and pond had perished. "The villagers are avoiding canal water and are scared to drink water from deep tubewells in the area," he said.

ONGC spokesman Kashyap Joshipura said, "We are trying to stop the spill." He said the oil had leaked from the pipeline following maintenance work. The ONGC is, at present, filling the crude oil in tankers and supplying it directly to the refinery.

"The villagers should not panic," Joshipura added.

The local residents alleged that some goons had made a hole in the pipeline to sell the crude oil in the open market.

They demanded that ONGC should guard the pipeline because it is national property.