Production in ONGC affected due to AASU's 100-hour bandh

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR, July 13: The production of oil and gas by ONGC, Assam Asset has been severely affected on the first day of the 100-hour ONGC bandh called by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) which started from 5 am on Monday.

The bandh has been called by the Sivasagar District Committee of the AASU to protest against the ONGC’s failure to address its demands for completion of the ONGC’s proposed super-specialty hospital, employment of 1,000 local youths in ONGC’s non-technical category, removal of various criteria while calling tenders for vehicles and others by the ONGC and funding for the preservation of ancient monuments in Sivasagar district.

All major fields in the district such as Geleki, Lakwa and Rudrasagar remained non-functiol due to the impact of the bandh as employees were not permitted to go inside and those who were operating were forcibly asked to shut down operation. Besides, AASU activists also stopped movement of all vehicles belonging to ONGC at different locations including ONGC’s headquarter at zira.

While talking to The Sentinel, Samiran Phukan, president of the Sivasagar Regiol unit of the AASU, said, “AASU is not in favour of bandh. But we called this bandh for the sake of the people of Sivasagar. Despite repeated appeals and a number of agitatiol steps against the ONGC to fulfil the demands, ONGC has turned a deaf ear.”

Phukan said, “ONGC’s decision to set up a super-specialty hospital in Sivasagar came as a result of tireless efforts by the organization in 2008, and the foundation stone of which is laid in 2013 at Rajabari in Sivasagar. But the construction work of the hospital has not been started so far.” “If ONGC can spend Rs 63 crores for medical treatment for their employees in one year, then why the ONGC authority has not shown serious interest in constructing the Rs-100 crore hospital in the time-bound period?” Phukan asked.

On the issue of employment of 1,000 locals in non-technical category in ONGC, Phukan said, “ONGC has taken a U-turn to fulfil its commitment to consider preference to candidates from the State in most of the recruitment.”