GUWAHATI: Public sector oil company, Oil India Limited (OIL) has dismissed as false reports in a section of local media about ‘death’ of four persons in Natun Gaon, a village near Baghjan gas well owing to the adversity induced by the blow out of the well and uncontrolled flowing of gas out of the well.
The OIL authority has requested the Deputy Commissioner, Tinsukia district of Assam to investigate into the matter so that real cause of deaths could be ascertained.
The OIL in a statement issued on Saturday said, “No human life has been lost due to release of natural gas, crude oil spillage or condensate in OIL’s operations in all these years. Para-medical staff are on duty 24×7 at the relief camps and doctors are constantly addressing the health issues of the local people staying in the relief camps or visiting the mobile health camps in the relief camps. As on date, there is no report of any such very serious health issues due to the Blowout.”
Meanwhile the well at Baghjan has been flowing gas uncontrollably even as experts from Singapore are expected to arrive on June 7 evening to try controlling the gas flow.
The OIL has engaged local fishermen with boat to identify oil spill, if any, in Maguri Matapung Beel so that immediate remedial action may be taken up as required. In the meantime, one Guwahati-based firm has also been lined up for bio-remediation of oil spill in the area.
“Associated Condensates coming out with the gas are water sprayed and collected in a pond near the well site itself and then safely transported to FHQ, Duliajan. Utmost care has been taken to arrest condensate spillage to surrounding areas,” the OIL has claimed.
A Bund has been created around the well site to prevent the contaminated water runoff to surrounding and nearby water body. Removal of the crane stuck close to the site was successfully completed.
Meanwhile, various organizations and local people have alleged that uncontrolled flow of natural gas from the blown out gas well at Baghjan has caused irreparable damage to the natural environment in the surrounding areas including paddy fields and tea estates.
The mishap in gas well has also triggered renewed opposition to OIL proposed extended reach drilling (ERD) project to extract crude oil underneath Dibru Saikhowa National Park in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district as organisations have apprehended the project will cause damage to flora , fauna and overall ecology of the national park.
