Blowout-hit local residents of Baghjan are as “surprised and shocked” as Oil India by the Pollution Control Board of Assam’s (PCBA) directive to “close down” all production and drilling operations in the affected area in Upper Assam.
They told The Telegraph that their pleas and representations to the PCBA and the district administration over the past 15 years, seeking an end to Oil India’s operations in the area had fallen on deaf ears.
“And now we get to hear about the PCBA’s closure notice. It is a welcome order, which has left us surprised and shocked as well. Had they acted earlier on our pleas, things would not have come to such a pass. This blowout could have been averted. This loss of life and livelihood could have been avoided. We thank the PCBA for waking up from their deep sleep to the dangers we face,” Hemanta Barman, adviser to the Baghjan Goan Milanjyoti Sangha, said on Sunday.
The Sangha is representing the affected local residents in talks with Oil India and the district administration for adequate relief and rehabilitation following the extensive damage caused to houses, plantations and aquatic lives within an area of 1.5km from the oil well that uncontrollably began releasing gas on May 27 and subsequently caught fire on June 9.
Over 8,000 residents are still living in 10 relief camps set up by Oil India around 15km away from the blowout site.
The Sangha had on Saturday evening temporarily withdrawn its protest against the PSU’s operations in the area for 15 days.
Oil India, which operates 18 oil wells and four gas wells in the Baghjan area, said they were requesting the PCBA to revoke the order because closing down operations suddenly could, among others, impact the capping operations.
If the PCBA does not heed its request, the company will file a writ petition challenging the order before the Gauhati High Court by Monday afternoon.
It is not only the Baghjan residents who are surprised over the PCBA “mysteriously” waking up to the threat posed by Oil India’s operations in the area despite the well being in operation since 2005.
Actor Adil Hussain on Sunday morning tweeted: “Assam Pollution Board acknowledged that @OilIndiaLimited had been drilling without proper authorisations, it is serious violation of Water, Air, Environment Acts in Upper Assam. Asks #OIL to shut all Drilling, Production Immediately. Thank You for waking up, Late than Never.”
The PCBA order has also directed Oil India to take all possible steps to cap the gas well fire, which is still raging.
The PCBA has accused the PSU of “nonchalantly” violating the provisions of law in force by “causing pollution to the environment” and “destroying” the aquatic life of nearby Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Maguri-Motapung wetland in the “name of exploring oil without any mitigation measures”, without being equipped with proper safety and precautionary measures “for which often major accidents occur at the drilling sites/production installations”.
Protests in the area have already resulted in Oil India losing over Rs 15 crore since May 27.
“And if there is total shutdown, we will lose around Rs 5 crore daily. But more than monetary loss, shutdown will affect capping operations. The EPS or early production setup, near the affected site serves as our war room, among others,” a company official said.
He said Oil India had submitted data of the last 15 years as sought by the PCBA within a week.
“It is true we sought a few more days, but when our plea was not granted we sent the data on June 19 through email, the day PCBA sent the closure notice. We will request it to reconsider the closure notice or we will have no option but to move court. Shutting down operations will have long-term impact, including productivity of the wells,” the official said.
