A significant crude oil leak has been reported in the Kau Kheda village of Kawas area in Rajasthan's Barmer district. The incident occurred on February 23 at approximately 12:00 PM while a local farmer, Harjiram Khoth, was present in his field. According to eyewitness accounts, thick black crude oil began erupting from a section of the farmland, rapidly spreading across the area and causing extensive damage to standing crops. The site is located in close proximity to the Aishwarya Oil Field's Wellpad No. 8.
Incident Overview and Immediate Response
According to officials, the leak originated from the ground within the agricultural plot. While the initial seepage was limited, the pressure increased within hours, leading to a wider spread of crude oil. Upon receiving information, technical and operational teams from Cairn Vedanta arrived at the location to initiate containment measures. As a safety precaution, the affected area has been cordoned off, and local residents have been advised to maintain a safe distance from the spill site to prevent any fire hazards or health issues.
Containment and Recovery Operations
To manage the spill and prevent further environmental degradation, the response teams have implemented a containment strategy, while according to company representatives, a trench measuring approximately 100 meters in length has been excavated to collect the leaking oil. Vacuum pumps are being utilized to transfer the accumulated crude oil into tankers for transport. Over the past three days, more than 50 tankers of oil have been recovered from the site. Despite these efforts, the seepage from the ground continues, necessitating ongoing recovery operations.
Impact on Agricultural Land and Crops
The affected farmer, Harjiram Khoth, stated that approximately 1 bigha of his farmland has been completely ruined by the oil spill. The standing crops have been destroyed as they're now covered under a thick layer of crude oil. Agricultural experts suggest that the infiltration of crude oil into the soil can have long-term adverse effects on soil fertility and microbial health, while the farmer expressed concerns that the contamination might render the land unfit for cultivation for several seasons, leading to significant livelihood challenges.
Technical Investigation and Production Halt
Engineers and technical experts are currently conducting a detailed investigation to identify the root cause of the leak. As a precautionary measure, the supply of oil through nearby pipelines and production activities at the associated wellpad have been temporarily suspended. The investigation aims to determine whether the leak was caused by a technical failure in an underground pipeline or due to geological factors. Officials have clarified that production will only resume once the source of the leak is identified and successfully sealed.
Compensation Demands and Local Concerns
The affected farmer has formally requested the company management and district administration for adequate compensation. He highlighted that his hard-earned crops and the long-term productivity of his land have been compromised. Local administrative officials have visited the site and assured that a formal assessment of the damage will be conducted. Based on the findings of the assessment, the process for providing financial compensation will be initiated in accordance with established norms. Currently, the primary focus remains on completely plugging the leak and securing the environment.