Assam: Tea Garden Workers Protest Against Oil Drilling Project At Maijan Tea Estate In Dibrugarh

DIBRUGARH: Hundreds of tea garden workers gathered to protest at Maijan Tea Estate, located on the outskirts of Dibrugarh, voicing their opposition to the establishment of an oil and gas drilling unit by Oil India Limited (OIL) on the estate grounds on Monday.

Led by the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), the protest has been driven by growing concerns about the environmental impact on their community and the surrounding region. The Majuli area, located next to the Brahmaputra River, is already suffering from severe erosion, resulting in the disappearance of agricultural lands and homes disappearing into the river over the years.

Ranjan Munda, a tea worker who has lived in the estate for three decades, shared the deep concern many of the workers feel: "Our primary concern is the survival of our community and the preservation of the local ecosystem.

"We fear that the drilling operations will create earthquake-like vibrations that could accelerate the already severe erosion along the Brahmaputra. In recent years, we have witnessed numerous families losing their homes and agricultural lands to river erosion," he added.

The workers also expressed their concern about Maijan Beel, a nearby natural lake that provides a habitat for diverse aquatic life. For the people there, the lake not only represents a beautiful natural resource but also an important part of the local ecosystem.

Their protest is a plea for recognition of their plight—not only for their livelihoods but also for the protection of the land and ecosystem that sustain them and future generations.

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