NEW DELHI, June 11 - Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to release interim financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each to the families who have been affected by the oil rig disaster at Baghjan.
Gogoi said in a letter to the Chief Minister that the incident has caused a serious threat to the local people and damaged the flora and fauna of the Dibru Saikhowa National Park which is a secure home to wide-ranging fauna, including birds and aquatic species.
The floating crude oil, as a result of the explosion, is a definite threat to the area�s rich biodiversity. All efforts must be made to vacate the local residents residing within the vicinity of the well to safer places, he said, adding that necessary arrangements should be made for their food, shelter and to mobilise men and equipment at the site so that the situation can be brought under control.
�I am sorry to say that despite the alarm raised by the people across the State, the Central Government, State Government and Oil India Limited have remained silent spectators to this tragedy,� he said.