It is 23rd day of Baghjan Oil Pipe burst followed by gas leakage and a devastating fire. Baghjan is a remote village of Tinsukia District of Assam. On the morning of May 27, a drilling oil well site (BGR No. 5) of Oil India Limited (OIL) had burst. After some time, the whole village witnessed the worst smell of gas and the people around the well site could not stay at home and had to rush to the road for help.
Everyone rushed out of their homes with teary eyes. After spending long hours of horror, the technicians working at the oil well field declared that it was a ‘blowout’, and it was going to be resolved very soon, but according to the people, the technician were in a hurry to leave the site, and they had to block them to get answers and a solution to the major crisis that had just been laid bare to them. The technicians were silent. After a long hour of waiting, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation and OIL Authority assured that the prevention system will work, but the blow out still continues.
The effects of this blowout have left an irreparable damage to all kinds of life in and around the well. Within 2-3 days, the people started to lose their cows, goats and other household animals.
Maguri Motapung Beel, a wetland near the site, is a very popular bird-watching destination of Assam and home to many aquatic animals. It was initially covered with a sticky layer of oil. In addition, the people felt extremely dejected when they witnessed one river dolphin dead and many fishes floating on the water, especially since fishing is the only option to sustain their livelihood.
Within 2 days, the gas leakage touched the nearby Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, a biosphere reserve mainly consisting of moist mixed deciduous forest, canebrakes, semi-evergreen forest. Till May 31, approximately 800 families have taken shelter in the school which was turned into a relief camp by the district authority and Oil Authority. But people want to go back to their homes to their lives. Forget social distancing, these people are struggling to breathe!
Negligence No. 1:
It took Petrol Specialists at OIL 15 days to make a visit to the blowout. While the Alert-Singapore team visited the Baghjan flare, they left for Duliajan (the nearby OIL office) without promising any prevention from the gas leakage. Very significantly after some hours of their visit, the oil well began to blaze. Though, no special statement has been given to the public by any authority—neither OIL, nor the state.
Negligence No. 2:
The blowout took place on May 27, and the blow-out has turned the local atmosphere misty due to the dense condensation. Rain-like droplets have fallen everywhere in the area. Gradually, these impacts were seen in the 2-kilometre radius area of the well, but now it has extended up to almost 5-6 kilometres. But still, after 23 days, the OIL authority has not given any clarity on the blowout and any compensation package.
Negligence No. 3:
The Baghjan oil spill poses a serious threat to the rich biodiversity of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. Dibru-Saikhowa and the satellite areas are known for the rich diversity of orchids and endangered animals, white-winged wood duck (Deo Hanh), the Feral Horse and Hoolock Gibbons. It is now feared that this will lead to the extinction of many endangered species of flora and fauna and the environmental damage will be near irreversible. But from the Ministry of Forest and Environment, no special concerned has been seen.
Negligence No. 4:
As previously stated, the oil well blaze is becoming a threat to Maguri-Motapung Beel, a world-famous wetland. The oil well flare and the sticky layer of oil greatly affect the migratory patterns and density of bird species that live or visit the area.
Negligence No. 5:
In this pandemic situation, when we are talking about social distancing, the people of Baghjan and nearby areas are fighting skin infection, headache, and general hygiene. OIL and district authority placed them in schools. The pregnant women, aged people and children are facing various problems.
Remarks:
- About 22 family lost their homes, and countless household animals died due to the oil well blaze. Recently CM of Assam, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, visited the place and promised proper rehabilitation, but people are not satisfied by his words. False promises by politicians and receiving nothing is a very common issue in Assam. Still, the fire continues to blaze and people are in schools.
- Two firemen died in the Baghjan fire. Though, the authorities have declared good amount to the family of these two firemen and promised to give them employment at OIL.
- Industry Minister of Assam’s BJP government, Mr Chandra Mohan Patwari, visited the relief camp and made absurd comments like, “Russia has witnessed 80 days of an oil fire; here it’s nothing.” And while interacting with the public at the Baghjan, Mr Jogen Mohan, a BJP politician, said that “Maybe these fishes and turtle are killed by someone.” While the people are emotionally damaged and crying for their lost shelter, these politicians seem to be making fun of these people.
- Mr Satyajit Moran, Secretary of the village youth club, said that “We are helpless and it is very unacceptable that no one listening to us.” He also stated that they are neglected by the national media as well; only a few channels, news portals and print media have given any heed to the importance of the incident. He asked why had the mainstream Indian media and public not shown any concern, while they were facing a dire situation.
- It’s the 23rd day from the incident, and public are still on the road fighting their fundamental rights.
Last but not the least, most of the people of the Baghjan area are tea cultivators. Due to this incident of oil well blaze, all the tea gardens of the area burnt down and they have lost their hopes. While taking your morning tea, please pray for them.
#justiceforbaghjan