GUWAHATI: Oil India Limited (OIL) will provide Rs 30,000 interim relief to each of the families affected by Baghjan gas well blow out in Tinsukia district of eastern Assam. The decision was taken following a meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office this morning.
The district administration will provide the OIL authorities with the list of affected families, a senior OIL official informed. About 1600 families in the surrounding localities have been affected by the blow out of the gas well at Baghjan and in the subsequent damage control operation so far.
Meanwhile, the PSU has not been able to supply crude oil to refineries and natural gas to various customers like tea estates, power generation companies and fertiliser companies as protesting public brought all activities of the Public Sector oil company to a halt last evening.
Even as the public outcry gathering decibels over the adverse consequences of disaster that has happened at the OIL gas well at Baghjan and uncontrolled flow of natural gas from the well, the OIL has issued a statement to apprise the public about the present status of its efforts to control the gas flow from the well and mitigate damage caused to the environment due to the mishap.
The OIL statement flags the following points:
Present Status of Well: Well is flowing Gas Uncontrollably
Updates:
- Pumping of water to the well through the casing valve is in progress to minimize chances of
- Fabrication of Fit for purpose equipment (hydraulically driven mechanical transporter) at OIL workshop under the supervision of OIL & ONGC CMT Teams is in progress. Testing of equipment required for controlling of the well is in progress.
- Removal of well site debris is in progress. Development of approach road for removing above items and other equipment from the well site is in progress.
- Digging of water reservoir near well site plinth is completed. Preparation of area for placement of pumps of 2500 gallons capacity in progress. Arrangement for collection of required quantity of water from the source is in progress.
- Singapore based firm “M/s Alert Disaster Control” is being mobilised which is expected to reach the site shortly.
- OIL fire service and with mutual aids are stationed 24×7 at site since 27 -05- 2020 for continuously water jacketing the well to avert any Presence of gas and air & water quality is being monitored at constant interval at strategic points. Layers of condensate deposited near the site are being picked up.
- All necessary supports for stay, food (including baby food), water, toilets, electricity and medical have been provided at the 4 (four) relief camps with support from District Administration and local organizations .A team of officials from OIL is at site to look after the relief camps.
- Ambulance with Para-Medical staffs are kept as standby. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is being mobilized to look after the relief operation.
- OIL has engaged an NABET accredited consultant to carry out Environment Impact Assessment Study to examine impact on environment. The consultant team reached the site and work has started.
- OIL has approached CSIR – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur and Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun for conducting a detailed impact assessment studies.