Bhubaneswar: The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) on Thursday blamed marine fishing boats for oil spills that have contaminated water bodies near Atharbanki on the outskirts of Paradip.

Referring to news report ("Whip on IOCL for leak in pipelines") that appeared in The Telegraph on July 26, 2018, IOCL authorities said officials of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board officials had informed them "about a probable leakage of oil from pipeline near Atharbanki" on July 24.

In a statement, it said: "IOCL pipeline officers checked the spot and confirmed that the pipeline Right-of-Way did not pass through the area pointed out as the location of the incident. IOCL officers reached the site immediately and met the Pollution Control Board officials. Officials from Indian Oil (Pipelines, Refinery and Marketing) inspected the site along with the PCB (pollution board) officials."

"There was a small strip of oil sheen observed on the water surface alongside banks of Atharabanki creek site. During investigation, it was found that a lot of oil (which seemed like marine oil used for fishing boat) was poured on the soil and large patches of soil got soaked with oil, which further spread into creek water and formed a patch of oil sheen."