Utmost priority to cap Baghjan oil well fire with global support: Sarbananda Sonowal

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan jointly addressed a press meet at the DC's Conference Hall here on the Baghjan oil-well fire after making an on-the-spot study at the blast site and interacting with the affected people at relief camps on Sunday.

Sonowal told the media persons that his Government has given the utmost priority to cap the fire with global support after being directed by the Prime Minister. With the arrival of experts from Canada, Australia, US and Singapore, he was confident that fire would be controlled soon. Two inquiry committees have been constituted to ascertain the cause of the blast and the extent of damages to biodiversity, he said, categorically adding that the persons responsible for the incident will not be spared. On the memorandum submitted by the 'Baghjan Gaon Milanjyoti Yuba Sangha', he said that maximum compensation will be awarded after proper assessment to the affected families who had lost all their belongings due to the inferno while appreciating the resilience maintained by the camp inmates.

He also announced that the OIL must ensure the security and safety of all stakeholders in the production crude and oil products; and also ensure that no such tragedy should recur in the future.

The CM also sanctioned Rs 27-crore anti-erosion projects, a model hospital, a veterinary hospital, a HS School, and a skill development centre among others for the benefit of the people of Baghjan area. He stated that the OIL will have to clear all the condensate and oil spillage into the Maguri-Mutapung beel — a wetland globally famous for hundreds of species of migratory as well as residential birds — and must bring back its earlier magnificent landscape.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while briefly interacting with the media, reiterated that the persons responsible for the mishap would be punished for which a three-member high-level inquiry committee has been formed by the Ministry.

Earlier during the day, both CM Sonowal and Union Minister Pradhan visited Baghjan and took stock of the blazing inferno at 'Well No.5' of the Oil India Limited and visited 2 relief camps and interacted with the camp inmates. On behalf of the affected people, the 'Baghjan Gaon Milanjyoti Yuba Sangha' submitted a memorandum to both Pradhan and Sonowal. Later, both held a meeting with representatives of various organizations at the Conference Hall of Tinsukia DC office to discuss the relief and rehabilitation of the villagers.

Meanwhile, the Rupai-based troops of the Army joined hands with civil administration and local police of Tinsukia District in evacuating approximately 6,500 locals affected by oil well fire incident at Baghjan in Assam.

Also watch: Evening Bulletin | 13th June, 2020