Effigy of ONGC Executive Director burnt at Assam Asset Headquarters, Nazira

A CORRESPONDENT

GAURISAGAR: Asomiya Yuva Mancha on Thursday burnt the effigy of ONGC Executive Director Bhaskar Choudhary in front of the main entrance of Assam Asset Office, blaming him of irresponsibility over the gas leak accident that took place at RDS 147 (A) oilfield in Bhatiapar under Rudrasagar oilfield, Gaurisagar.

The activists of the organization alleged that ONGC has been manipulating the lives and property of the indigenous people in the name of crude oil and gas extraction. The protesters chanted slogans like ‘ONGC murdabad,’ ‘no manipulation of indigenous people’s lives,’ ‘blacklist SK Petro,’ and ‘arrest owner Srikrishna Agarwal.’

The Advisor, President, and Secretary of Asomiya Yuva Mancha said that ONGC has been drilling crude oil and producing natural gas in various parts of the historical district of Sivasagar for decades. They alleged that there had been many accidents due to the oil company illegally handing over responsibility to the private sector for the extraction of crude oil and gas. They said that the contractor of the private rig No. SKP 135 vi, SK Petro, had been operating illegally.

They said that gas leaks could cause serious damage to the local population. The organization alleged that Srikrishna Agarwal, the proprietor of SK Petro, did not follow the safety policies of oil companies. Asomiya Yuva Mancha questioned why the company was not blacklisted despite the fire last year and how SK Petro, which owns several big contracts, gets contracts repeatedly. They also demanded ONGC to conduct proper investigation into the incident and to impose exemplary punishment against the perpetrators.

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