Baghjan fire likely to continue for 2 more months: Chandra Mohan Patowary

Guwahati: Two more months are likely to be taken by experts to douse the fire at Oil India's no. 5 gas well at Baghjan, where the gas is spewing for the past 99 days, Assam Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed during an Assembly session on September 2.

Assam's Commerce and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary while responding to a Zero Hour notice by Congress MLA Durga Bhumij on the floor of the Assembly said that a team of international experts from Canada shall be brought to Baghjan in Tinsukia district to kill the well through snubbing technology.

Bhumij had pointed out that the Baghjan well disaster has caused an enormous impact on the ecology, with the wildlife in the nearby Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and aquatic life at adjacent Maguri-Motapung Beel dying out due to the effects of the blowout.

Patowary said that the team from Canada shall be coming with "advanced equipment", going on to add that they will kill the well through snubbing technology. The Minister went on to add that after carrying out preparatory works, the exercise could take 6-8 weeks to complete.

He went on to add that the OIL is working towards controlling the well temporarily by transferring the flowing gas through a diverter.

Sharing some details of the ongoing crisis, the Minister said that at least 3,000 families have been shifted to relief camps where the OIL and Government are jointly taking care of their needs.

The Minister added that 12 houses that were completely burnt are being offered Rs 24 lakh each for rehabilitation. At the same time, 1,484 families living nearby the well have been offered one-time relief of Rs. 30,000. 1,197 families staying a bit further away were given Rs. 25,000 each.

Moreover, 57 families affected by the blowout and the subsequent fire will be provided Rs. 10 lakh each, and 561 more families with partial impact will be given Rs. 2.5 lakh each as per the suggestions of the district administration.

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