DIBRUGARH, May 29 - The ill-fated Baghjan 5 oil rig of Oil India Limited (OIL) continues to spew gas uncontrollably along with copious amounts of associated crude oil, even as the crisis management team is working out a mechanism to control the leak.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan today took stock of the situation at Baghjan in a discussion with the OIL Chairman and Managing Director. He also spoke to the ONGC CMD.
Expressing his concern over the incident, Pradhan advised OIL to take all necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of the local population. He instructed ONGCL to provide all possible support to OIL in this moment of crisis.
In the meantime, the Government of Assam is also keeping a close watch on the developments and providing all possible help to OIL.
As a precautionary measure, an area of radius 1.5 km has been declared a safety zone and the locals from this area are being shifted to other places and relief camps. The Tinsukia district administration is assisting OIL in taking safety steps. Food and logistic support are being made available to the people staying in these relief camps.
Four experts from ONGC�s Vadodara operations have arrived at Baghjan today and have begun their work towards capping the blowout.
An OIL spokesman said the company wants to reassure the local people of the area that their wellbeing, health and safety are the top priority for the company. OIL is also closely monitoring the environment and doing the best to minimise the impact, the spokesman added.
He said the OIL management is hopeful that the blowout will be brought under control at the earliest.
