India's largest offshore oilfield Bombay High is believed to be under threat of a terror attack, according to the Association of Scientific and Technical Officers of ONGC. Fishermen, in the absence of any security mechanism, regularly sneak in to the platforms of Bombay High. The oilfield’s 1,750 Sq km area has over 100 platforms, 600 wells, a maze of pipelines and other infrastructure.

The officials have already informed of the fact to the Prime Minister and the Petroleum Ministry before and after the Mumbai terror attacks. “We have written letters and sent the photographs to the Prime Minister and Petroleum Minister informing them about the activities of the fisherman, but no action has been taken as yet. The security is inadequate,” says Rajan Pillai, General Secretary, ASTO-Central Working Committee of the Union Government.

“When so much is being talked about coastal security, then why can’t the Government appoint some appropriate agency to look after the security of Bombay High, which is just 160 km away from the coast?” asks Pillai.

The area of Bombay High is from Porbandar to Vizag. “There is absolutely no security in the area to stop an attack. If the terrorists attack this platform, the economy of the country will be shattered,” he adds. The Bombay High rigs have a total production capacity of approximately 2,60,000 barrels of oil every day. It produces 14 per cent of India’s oil requirements and accounts for 38 per cent of all domestic production.

Fisherman, according to Pillai, sneak to the platforms to find a good catch of the fish. “If terrorists destroy a platform it would result into a disaster,” he says. Each platform is worth Rs 8,000 crore and there are around 112 such manned and unmanned platforms. “The situation is alarming. We have found several fishermen coming near the platform who are also involved in thefts there. The Government should do something about it,” adds Pillai.