BCPL clarifies stand regarding allegations by AGP Anchalikatabadi Mancha

From our Staff Correspondent

Dibrugarh, September 1: The magement of Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) has clarified their stand on the allegation leveled against the company by the AGP Anchalikatabadi Mancha that the industry has become bane for people living around the industry due to air and water pollution, besides failure to provide adequate employment to local youths and others.

The press communiqué issued by BCPL magement stated that BCPL being a premier  project of Assam, is operating  its petrochemical plant at Lepetkata with utmost care and committed for the protection of environment. BCPL, the communiqué further said, would play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the nearby areas as well as the entire region as a whole. A number of industries of the north-eastern region had approached BCPL for buying polymer and liquid hydrocarbons which is very cost effective and suitable for them, which in turn will create in-direct employment opportunities. Representatives of many tiol and intertiol agencies, vendors are visiting BCPL for various mutual business needs. It is directly/indirectly helping local economy. Sustained operation of BCPL and its growth will further enhance the prosperity of the region, the communiqué added.

BCPL  magement had clarified that as a Government of India Undertaking, its  recruitments are being done as per Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines only. As on today, the majority of employees in BCPL, including executives and non-executives are from the Northeast. As far as engagement of locals is concerned, it has already been clarified that the contractors engaged cent percent local people, including project affected persons (PAP), in unskilled category in different contract jobs.

Also, the contractors give preference to the local persons in semi-skilled and skilled technical work. To ensure engagement of local people in unskilled/ skilled category a clause has been incorporated in the special conditions of contract in BCPL.

Refuting the allegation of air and water pollution, BCPL magement said they were paying utmost importance to environment protection and have an operatiol modern Effluent Treatment Plant.

Flaring from running plant is invariable   in any petrochemical/processing plant during initial stage and plant start-up and stabilization, the flaring gets normalized within few hours. As per the norms of Pollution Control Board (PCB), effluent from BCPL Lepetkata plant is being discharged to River Brahmaputra only after quality of effluent meets the PCB specification. No effluent apart from above is being discharged to any other water bodies, including Sessa River. Quoting a communication received from Office of the District Fishery Development Officer, Dibrugarh, Government of Assam, the BCPL magement stated that the department found water quality normal and no changes in eco system was observed in Dehing River after a thorough alysis. As per the fishery department’s report, no change was found in physical appearance, behaviour, pattern of distribution and population of fish species in Dehing river.

The magement of BCPL has called upon all to cooperate for further development of the project as well socio-economic development of the people living around the industry.