Public hearing on Digboi Refinery expansion held

DIGBOI: A public hearing was conducted by Pollution Control Board on Saturday afternoon at Digboi Paragdhar Saliha Auditorium over the expansion of the AOD refinery project amidst a peaceful and congenial atmosphere. The hearing over the capacity expansion of 0.65 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) Digboi refinery to 1 MMTPA was held with ADC Tinsukia Monjit Borkotoky in the chair accompanied by Hiren Pegu, the president Regional Pollution Board, Dibrugarh.

The top officials of the AOD Management, student organizations, contractors’ bodies and representatives of various socio-cultural and trade organizations, several political and non political stakeholders also took part in the hearing proceedings. Significantly, all the stakeholders readily consented in welcoming tones and expressed happiness over the expansion projects –a long cherished dream project of the people of the historic oil town Digboi.

Local AOD contractor body, AASU, Gorkha student body, social activists like Gopal Chandra Das, Diganta Saikia, Jiten Dutta the pro-talk Ulfa leader, and Lakhyajyoti Gogoi, president of Raijor Dal speaking almost in the same demanded of the AOD management to give preference for local employment and work be sublet to local contractors as far as possible. The pollution should be controlled and the adverse impact on the flora and fauna is seriously considered during the execution of the project work, they demanded while supporting the cause of its expansion.

However, most of the speakers of course deviating from the subjects expressed a frosty-nose stare look towards the AOD authority in regard to the implementation of various CSR funds and unhealthy public relations. According to Binod Chetry the Gorkha leader, the AOD management must improve the sorry state of affairs of the AOD hospital and improve on various other aspects affecting the lives of the people of Digboi.

Meanwhile, handling the grievances of the public adequately, the officials of the AOD management aptly highlighted various projects of socio-economic, educational, and health utility services served and promoted for community welfare over a period of time.

Briefing on the technical aspects of the projects, Kamaljit Medhi the AOD official told that the current capacity of the refinery which is 0.65 MMTP would be enhanced to 1MMTP at the investment of Rs 740.20 crore which is expected to be commissioned by October 2025. The capacity of the existing Duliajan-Digboi crude pipelines has also been increased to meet the crude requirement for the enhanced capacity of the Digboi refinery, informed the AOD Official.

Furthermore, explaining the impact assessment report prepared by an EIL, the official told that the impact of the project would be very much minimal as the upgradation project would be restricted within the refinery premises. Already existing units like AVU, and DCU within the refinery would be revamped from 0.65 MMT to 1.0 MMT and 0.17 MMT to 0.22 MMT chronologically. In regard to ambient air quality and ambient noise level, the industry has already adopted adequate measures. In regard to treatments of effluents and the problem of water logging, the official said that the plants already have an Oil-water separator with the required capacity to reduce the spillage level.

The project would have direct or indirect benefits for the people during the constructional and operational phases in terms of additional income, socio-economic development, and skill development that would lead to achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat, the vision of the Prime Minister of the nation.

Meanwhile, ADC Tinsukia upon listening to all the stakeholders finally concluded by saying that not a single person raised any objections regarding the expansion project of the refinery. However, the people were mostly concerned about the two issues- local employment and pollution being controlled.

Pegu, the president of PCB while appreciating the efforts of the AOD management in reducing the refinery hazards over the past 5 years said that any issues or objections related to pollution might be brought to his notice for immediate address.