GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Sunday announced a slew of measures for the progress and protection of the Baghjan area in Tinsukia district, including making Maguri Beel, a wetland close to Oil India Limited’s gas well blast site, a tourist hotspot.
Apart from pledging maximum compensation after damage assessment to the families affected by the explosion at a natural gas-producing well of OIL on June 9 last, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said a road connecting Baghjan with Tinsukia and an embankment for protecting the area from annual floods and erosion would be constructed soon.
Sonowal, along with Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, visited the site on Sunday and took stock of the ongoing operation to control the fire and cap the well.
Both the leaders interacted with residents of the area and visited three relief camps set up by OIL.
“The state government would be uncompromising on the progress and protection of the Baghjan area. One model hospital and a veterinary hospital would soon be set up in the area in addition to a model higher secondary school to augment the education sector,” Sonowal assured the people of the area.
“A skill development centre will be established in the area. Besides, special support would be provided to women self-help groups of the area to strengthen the economy,” he said.
A detailed plan in regard to the development projects will be prepared by the Tinsukia district administration in consultation with the affected people.
The Union minister said that the both the Centre and the Assam government were committed to the safety and well-being of the affected people and assured them of all possible assistance in restoring their livelihoods.
“Our primary job now would be to seal the gas well for which we have brought foreign experts. At the same time, we are jointly investigating the causes of the incident,” Pradhan said.
Pradhan who arrived in Guwahati on Saturday, had a meeting with Sonowal at the latter’s official residence on Saturday to discuss matters related to the incident.
The petroleum and natural gas ministry had on Friday constituted a three-member high-level committee comprising directorate general of hydrocarbon’s director general S. C. L Das, former ONGC chairman B.C Bora and former ONGC director T.K Sengupta to probe the circumstances that led to the blowout at the gas well in Baghjan.
The committee will identify and submit a report on lapses if any in following the laid down protocols and procedures which led to the blowout. The committee will also recommend short and long-term measures to prevent recurrence of such events.
The state government on Thursday had entrusted additional chief secretary Maninder Singh to conduct an inquiry into the gas well blowout and subsequent blaze and submit a report within 15 days.
Besides, additional principal conservator of forest (wildlife), M.K. Yadava, has been directed to conduct a study on the effects of the explosion on the ecology of the surrounding areas.