Blockade in Baghjan affects OIL work in Doomdooma

DOOMDOOMA: Even as the visit of Lt. General Rana Pratap Kalita, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 3 Corps, Dimapur, to Baghjan OIL BGR 5 gas well on Friday acted as the much-needed morale booster for the workforce at site, it had no impact on the affected villagers in relief camps as he neither visited anyone in those camps nor did he have any interaction with them.

The Army Officer, besides overviewing the progress of fire capping preparation as briefed by CMT (Crisis Management Team), had discussion with OIL and ONGCL officers led by Dr P. Chandraseksran, Director (Exploration & Drilling). Army's role here lies in construction of a Bailey bridge assigned to Dinjan based 110 Engineers Regiment on the water body near Maguri-Matapunh Beel to facilitate the laying of water pipes from Dangori River and deployment of other equipment.

As the aggrieved villagers resorted to blockade of EPS (Early Production System) at Baghjan on Friday evening, for which police had to be called in to rescue the workmen, a tripartite meeting was held at the Deputy Commissioner's office, Tinsukia on Saturday between Baghjan Gaon Milanjyoti Yuva Sangha, the district administration and OIL to resolve the blockade issue there. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Pegu, Superintendent of Police Siladitya Chetia, OIL CMD Sushil Chandra Mishra and other senior officials from OIL.

Meanwhile, the work of construction of a Bailey Bridge by Army is in progress. As regards relief and rehabilitation survey for assessment of damage for compensation, the committee constituted by the district administration has started its job. Work at the site was affected on Friday due to blockade at Baghjan EPS. Working personnel could come out of the

EPS only at around 7.30 PM on Friday night. Police forces have been deployed at the site by the district administration with assistance from Army.

Being concerned over these developments, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan conducted a video-conferencing meeting on Friday evening with the OIL CMD and Directors of OIL on the issue of continued blockade as it was severely hampering the progress of work at the site.

On the other hand, Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), ATTSA, AASAA and other organizations staged a three-hour sit-in at Doomdooma Town Field on Saturday in protest against 'discrimination' of OIL towards the affected people belonging to the tea tribes community in Baghjan oil well fire incident. They sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding just compensation to people belonging to the tea tribes community.

Also watch: Morning Bulletin | 20th June. 2020