CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said efforts are underway to contain the gas leak following the ONGC well blowout while claiming that the amount announced today is just an interim relief
ONGC well blowout: Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announces Rs 25,000 interim relief ~ Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today (June 17) announced Rs 25,000 each to families affected by the ONGC well blowout saying the amount would be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as an instant relief.
Chief Minister Dr Sarma had visited Sivasagar on Monday night and took stock of the situation, while assuring residents of Bhotiapar Barichuk where Well No. RDS 147 of Rig No. 135 is located that measures will be taken to plug the leak while affected families will be given adequate compensation.
Chief Minister Dr Sarma announced the relief which he said was a preliminary amount while ONGC will provide affected families with adequate compensation.
“We will discuss about the compensation that needs to be paid but as of now I am announcing an immediate relief of Rs 25,000 to every affected family from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund so that they can clothes, books and other essential goods. This has no connection with the compensation and is a small amount from the CM Relief Fund,” Dr Sarma said while speaking to media persons in Dibrugarh before winding up his four-day visit to upper Assam.
He also said that the oil and gas major, a Navaratna enterprise of the Government of India, will take the services of an expert from USA while announcing that he will speak to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri over the issue.
LISTEN IN TO WHAT CM DR HIMANTA BISWA ANNOUNCED FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE ONGC GAS LEAK:
Meanwhile, the gas leak at Well No. RDS 147 of Rig No. 135 in Bhotiapar Barichuk in Assam’s Sivasagar district continued for the sixth day after gas was seen gushing from the well on June 12.
Technical teams, reports said, are working round the clock but have failed to contain the emission.
Seventy families were shifted to a relief camp, officials said, as efforts to contain the gas leak continues but with little success.
“Met people affected by the recent gas leak in Sivasagar. I have instructed officials of @ONGC_ to address the situation at the earliest, as time is of essence. Tomorrow I have scheduled a discussion with Hon’ble Union Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri ji and Chairman (ONGC) to expedite this process and engage foreign experts. In the meanwhile Ministers of our Government will be stationed at Sivasagar to ensure our people are provided with interim relief in the camps set up for them. This matter has our highest priority and we stand firmly with our people. We will be sharing more updates shortly,” CM Dr Sarma wrote on ‘X’ after meeting people affected by the gas leak on Monday night.
Meanwhile, as ONGC officials fail to plug the leak, there has been considerable public anger over ONGC’s alleged failure to ensure safety of the people living near the well where the blowout took place.
While one person allegedly died after he suffered a heart attack following a deafening sound in the well, several people have also complained of rashes and skin ailments following the uncontrolled leakage of natural gas from the well.
Gushes of gas were observed from Well No. RDS 147 during servicing operations on June 12. The well, situated at Rudrasagar oil field in Sivasagar district, is being operated by a private firm named SK Petro Services on behalf of ONGC.
A district administration official said around 1,500 people have been affected by the incident.
“They are getting the smell of gas and are not able to light their stoves or burn anything. We are providing them with cooked food and constantly monitoring the situation,” news agency PTI reported a senior district administration official as saying.
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