Compensation issue: Frustration looms large among Baghjan residents

Deep frustration looms large with anti-NGT (National Green Tribunal) sentiments surging high amongst
Compensation issue: Frustration looms large among Baghjan residents

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: Deep frustration looms large with anti-NGT (National Green Tribunal) sentiments surging high amongst the oil blowout-affected people of Baghjan as uncertainties prevail over the compensation stand-off after the NGT deferred its much-awaited hearing to December 15.

There were spontaneous protests where the people vented their ire. They even prevented the entry of the snubbing unit that was brought from Calgary (in Canada).

Meanwhile, activists of the 'Baghjan Gaon Milan Jyoti Sangha' have not ruled out the involvement of some big players with hidden agenda. They also feel that these players are attempting to scuttle the initiatives at Baghjan.

Expressing deep anguish, the president and the secretary of the Sangha — Satyajit Moran and TikhnajyotiHazarika — who have been spearheading the relentless struggle for justice told The Sentinel that the Sangha along with the people of Baghjan was pushed to the corner over the latest development in the NGT arena. They further stated that humanitarian reasons have forced them to lose trust on the NGT and also the committee of experts headed by Justice BP Katakey.

While appreciating the initiative of Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner DigantaSaikia, they also said that Justice Katakey was the only hope for the distressed people of Baghjan; but surprisingly, he was not even aware that the NGT had deferred the hearing on the issue till December 15, said Tikhnajyoti, adding that it was he who informed Justice Katakey of the deferment.

With discontentment surfacing among the expert members on some issues, they have also questioned the justification of constituting several committees and sub-committees and inclusion of experts — majority of whom did not pay even a single visit to Baghjan. Had the NGT committee visited Baghjan then and assessed the ground realities and the extent of damage before the submission of their preliminary report on 24.7.2020, there would not have been three categories of compensation instead of the two categories as suggested by the present Tinsukia DC following in-depth re-survey and the compensation matter would have been resolved in the NGT's hearing on 6.8.2020 itself, the duo pointed out.

Tikhnajyoti also said that the people of Baghjan would not have suffered so much had BananiKakkar — a wetland activist from Kolkata — not filled petition before the NGT. She never visited Tinsukia or Baghjan. What then prompted her to show so much concern for the Maguri-MotapungBeel? Posed Tikhnajyoti and several others. He added that following the blowout on May 27 and the subsequent fire on June 9, when negotiations were on with OIL on compensation and other issues, Kakkar without any knowledge of ground realities filed a petition before the NGT almost a month after the incident.

According to Tikhnajyoti, she actually spilled the beans. He also accused her for the present impasse. She even did not feel the necessity to contact the Sangha activists prior to taking the legal course, said Tikhnajyoti. The entire issue could have been settled via a tripartite consensus among the OIL, the Sangha and the district administration, viewed Tikhnajyoti. He further asserted, "BonaniKakkar is accountable to the people of Baghjan. As a petitioner she must evolve the ways and means to bail out the distressed families with suitable compensation and livelihood."

Expressing surprise over the latest move of the NGT, senior OIL official (PR) TrideepHazarika posed, "What prompted the NGT to postpone the November 3 hearing was not known to OIL." He categorically said that the OIL had not sought any additional time. Instead, it expressed the need to go by the judgement as deemed fit by the NGT, he added.

On being asked about the discrepancy in the number of affected families (over 18 additional families according to OIL press release of 5.11.2020) to 612 families suggested by the Tinsukia district administration, Hazarika said that the picture would be clear after the release of the final list.

On this issue, Milan Sangha activists contend that the OIL might have included 18 families on its own. These names did not figure in the DC's list.

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