The government on Monday approved the setting up of the independent inquiry committee to look the safety and security aspects of the offshore operations of ONGC. Headed by a former secretary in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas T. S. Vijayaraghavan, the committee would also look into the hiring process of helicopters, specially MI-172 helicopters, by ONGC. It would also look into the circumstances under which the ill fated helicopter, belonging to Mesco, was hired by the PSU.The other members of the committee are are Maj Gen (Retd) SCN Jatar and Prof Pritam Singh. Maj Gen Jatar has served the Corps of Engineers of Indian Army and is a former chairman & managing director of Oil India Limited. Prof Pritam Singh, a management specialist and Padma Shri Awardee, has been Director of Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.The terms of reference for the committee include safety and security of lives in offshore operations, maintenance/ repairs / replacement of offshore installations, related infrastructures, pipelines, etc. The committee would also look into adequacy of efforts made by ONGC in ensuring safety and security of personnel engaged in offshore operation and would study action taken on complaints/ grievances regarding safety matters, including condition of helicopters. The role of the management in the above contexts would also be looked into by the committee.The ministry has asked the committee to submit its report within a period of three months. The committee may consult such experts on technical issues as it may so decide. Petroleum Minister Ram Naik also directed that with a view to instill a sense of confidence among ONGC employees, a mechanism involving a third party inspection should be put in place immediately.
