AVIK CHAKRABORTY: A total of 2756 families of Baghjan in Tinsukia have been surveyed for assessment of damage for compensation till Wednesday.
Talking to Northeast Now, Oil India Limited (OIL) spokesperson Tridiv Hazarika said, “Already we have provided Rs 20 lakh compensation to 11 families, whose houses were fully damaged in the Baghjan blowout incident.”
“We have also paid Rs 9 crore to Tinsukia deputy commissioner as immediate financial assistance for around 3,000 families,” said Hazarika.
“Till Wednesday, 2,756 families of Baghjan were surveyed and the process of survey for assessment has been going on. After the proper survey we can come out with the total figure,” the OIL spokesperson said.
However, Baghjan Milanjyoti Yuva Sangha, which spearheaded the movement against OIL, has demanded compensation of all the families of Baghjan.
Satyajit Moran, president of Baghjan Milanjyoti Yuva Sangha said, “We are demanding compensation for all the families of Baghjan.”
“The Tinsukia district administration assured us to pay the compensation to the families on August 6 but till date they have not been compensated. Now, the Tinsukia district administration has decided to compensate according to the NGT category,” he added.
“The administration will give importance to the families which fall under category-I. We have decided to hold a meeting with the villagers to discuss the issue,” Moran said.
Meanwhile, as advised by Alert Disaster Control and ONGC team, considering the overall operational safety during well capping and well killing operation, it has been decided to fabricate a scissor-type ‘C’-plate for placement of liquid resin on top of the slips.
The decision has been taken in an attempt to create a temporary ‘pack-off’ of the annular section from exposure to direct well bore pressure upon closing of the Blow out Preventer (BOP).
Hazarika informed that safety related activities are going on inside the exposed part of the well and it will take 76 hours to complete the work.
“Fabrication of this scissor-type ‘C’-plate has already been completed at OIL’s Engineering Workshop and also transferred to the site,” the OIL spokesperson said.
“The placement of resins would now be carried out in two instalments, each consuming around 24 hours as setting time. This entire process is expected to take around 72-96 hours,” he said.
“All efforts are being taken to control the well at the earliest. Treatment of killing fluid is in progress too at site,” Hazarika added.Nenow
