New Delhi: The Paradip oil refinery of IOC (Indian Oil Corporation) in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district will remain shut for 22 days from July 25 for maintenance work, an official spokesperson said on Saturday. Around 800 workers will be engaged by IOC for carrying out the maintenance work at the refinery plant. They will, however, adhere to all COVID-19 protocols, said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson for Paradip refinery of IOC said, "Periodic maintenance work of the refinery is essential for ensuring operational safety and efficiency." The last maintenance activity at the refinery was undertaken in March 2018, the person added. The Paradip refinery was commissioned in 2016 and has a capacity of 15 million tonnes per annum.
According to an Odisha state government official, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC will be in place around the IOC refinery in Paradip to prevent any congregation in the area. The decision to undertake the maintenance work at the refinery was taken by IOC authorities and the district administration because it was essential, said Jagatsinghpur Collector Sangram Keshari Mohapatra.
The Collector also added that professionals and engineers who will undertake the maintenance job are inside the IOCL refinery premises and two teams of the district administration are daily collecting swab samples of those visiting the refinery, in order to keep a check on Coronavirus spread.
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