On May 27, a major eruption occurred at the Baghjan oil well in the district of Tinsukia
Guwahati:
Oil India Limited’s (OIL) natural gas production well in the upper district of Tinsukia, Assam, continues to spit gas even after the incident, causing serious damage to the wetlands and biodiversity of the region. Images shared by locals on social media show gas condensate settling in the Bebe Maguri wetland, dead carcasses of endangered gangetic dolphins and other aquatic species floating in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park , barely three kilometers from the oil field where the incident took place in May. 27.
Rice fields, ponds and wetlands in neighboring villages have also been contaminated and the threat is growing daily. Several small tea producers in the region have also complained about the gas condensate layers in their tea gardens.
The developments led to public anger at the company, with local villagers holding rallies in search of an investigation into the incident.
“We want an investigation into Indian oil exploration in this area because there are several and this poses a huge threat to nature and the forest,” said Niranta Gohain, a local ecotourism activist in the region. .
“Already a lot of aquatic life is dead and animals are threatened, even endangered hoolock gibbons,” said local boy Diplob Chutia.
Some residents also questioned the fact that the government had not recruited Singapore experts to “Kill Well”.
“For days, the government and Oil India are trying to trick us and say that experts are coming,” said a lady who lives in a relief camp.
At least 6,000 people living within 1.5 km of the natural gas production well have been evacuated and placed in relief camps.
Oil India Limited also announced immediate financial relief of Rs 30,000 to affected families.
“Oil India’s limited crisis management team with CGSB experts is ready to make the first attempts to plug the well, all preparations are made and will attempt to plug it and we are also expecting a team of experts from Singapore” , said Tridiv Hazarika, Corporate Communication Manager, Oil India.
The extent of the damage prompted Assam’s chief minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, to ask the center for immediate measures to limit the gas leak.
