Residents of Paluch in Eastern Nile State who live in close proximity to the oil fields are complaining of environmental pollution as a result of oil production.

They complain of outbreak of unknown diseases which they say were not there before oil production started in the area.

Emmanuel Daniel Kam Anei, deputy director of Paluch Payam, says the oil companies operating in their area have not demonstrated any gesture of social corporate responsibility.

Mr Kam says many pregnant women in the areas have been having “miscarriage” while others give birth to “deformed children”.

“For example, you will find that there are many cases of miscarriage amongst women; some give birth to deformed children, stillbirths,” he told the media.

“Such things were not there before.”

Responding to the complaint, the Director-General in the Ministry of Petroleum, Engineer Awou Daniel, says the ministry has designed measures to address environmental pollution in the oil fields.

He says their target is, by 2018, there will be no more damage caused to the environment as a result of oil production activities.

“We will return the water down and this process is ongoing and the water will be retained in formation underground,” Mr Eng Awou said.

“This process will take time this is part of the solution to save the environment.”

Eng Awou was speaking to a group of journalists during a media trip to assess the situation at the oil fields in Paluch.