Tinsukia: Although the Oil India Limited (OIL) authorities have succeeded in dousing the fire in the oil well at Baghjan that had ravaged the lives and livelihood of hundreds of people, some of the affected people are yet to receive any compensation from the authorities.
Some members of the affected families from Rongagora village have begun a hunger strike on December 10 demanding the concerned authorities to pay the due compensation for their losses.
It may be mentioned here that the people in Rangagora and other adjacent villages are yet to receive the compensation, while the affected families of Baghjan village have received the compensation from OIL authorities.
The OIL authorities, earlier, had claimed that they had deposited a certain amount of money to the district administration so that it would be distributed to the affected villagers after assessing the damage. However, locals complained that they have only received Rs 50,000 in the first month, till now. They had actually assured to pay Rs 50,000 per month to each affected family.
Reports said that OIL's attempt to deposit Rs 25 crore for the district administration was deferred by the National Green Tribunal. The NGT ordered for an eight-member committee under its auspices to formulate the disbursement plan and calculate the actual amount, as per reports.
The Baghjan Well number 5 caught fire on May 27 this year and it ravaged houses, paddy fields and cattle belonging to the villagers. The ravaging fire had also seriously impacted the biodiversity of the Maguri Motapung Beel and Dibru Saikhowa. The fire that continued for five months and ten days also led to mild tremor in the areas affecting damages in the houses and buildings of the villagers.
People in Rongagora and other adjoining villages have also lost their livelihood as the fire damaged paddy fields and affected the nearby water bodies, which used to be the sources of livelihood for many people in terms of fishing. It destructed the flora and fauna of the region and it adversely resulted in many pregnant women delivering stillborns.
Reports said that prolonged protests and many rounds of talks with the district administration were organised. Sukreshwar Neog, a 45-year-old villager from Baghjan committed suicide by consuming pesticide. He was burdened over his house catching fire and not receiving any compensation.
