SIVASAGAR, June 25 - Joutha Sangrami Mancha, an umbrella organisation of several youth and student bodies of Sivasagar district, alleged in a release here on Saturday that ONGC, the biggest PSU engaged in oil exploration and production in the country, has always been inimical to the interests of the local people since its first footing in the region.
It was also alleged that ONGC offers advantages to outsiders in matters of recruitment and contracts to the detriment of the local aspirants. Jadov Gogoi of Brihattar Asomiya Yuva Mancha, Ankuran Phukan and Nawabuddin Ahmed of Ahom Sena, Diganta Tamuli of Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, Asom, signing the release, alleged that the terms and conditions incorporated in contractual procedures for light and heavy vehicles are very complicated and have been deliberately made so with an intention to deprive the locals in the tender process so that the contracts go ultimately to the capitalists� lobby from outside the State.
It also alleged that there is a special anti-Assam group of higher officers in ONGC that has been conspiring to bring down the production of crude and natural gas so as to identify it as a loss-making industry and then compelling the Ministry of Hydrocarbons to hand over the rich oil fields to the private sector.
The Mancha called for ONGC bandh on June 22 in protest against the Navratna company�s alleged anti-Assam stance and demanded relaxation of norms for contracts of 392 light vehicles.The Mancha observed that ONGC in association with the Sivasagar district administration was contemplating to crush the democratic protests of the local organisations which the Mancha warned will not be tolerated. It therefore called upon the district administration and some contractors with vested interests to stay away from the conspiracy.
In all, 464 tenders were submitted in the ONGC�s head office at Nazira so far against a bid for 392 light vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Gauhati High Court has directed the ONGC authority to accept the tenders even as a case for relaxation of terms of the bid remains to be settled.
In the meantime, ONGC has vide another release urged all the stakeholders to work responsibly in the interest of the nation and forgo the path of agitation.
