Student' bodies call off OIL blockade in Asom

Guwahati, Apr 30 (UNI) The 72-hour oil blockade was called off this afternoon following a deliberation between Oil India Limited (OIL) authorities and agitating students' bodies.

An OIL source informed that representatives of four organisations, All Assam Tai Ahom Students Union, All Assam Moran Students Union, All Assam Muttock Yuba Chatra Sanmelan and All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students Union, met OIL CMD Mulkraj Prasirja today at Dulijan.

Tinsukia District Deputy Commissioner Samsher Singh was also present.

The agitating students' bodies handed over their memorandum enlisting their demands and the OIL authorities had assured them to look into it.

Earlier, the blockade had hampered work in some installations in the twin districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, where it had been enforced leading to a production loss of about 1200 to 1500 kilolitre.

The blockade had been called by the students' bodies alleging neglect of the interests of these communities by the oil major.

The primary demands of the student organisations include Rs 400-crore special economic package for the development of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, an assurance to spend 50 per cent of the returns from new oilfields on welfare schemes for these areas, recruitment to vacant posts and creation of new jobs.

Besides, compensation to farmers whose crops are affected by drilling-related pollution, stipends for teachers and employees of 'venture schools' in the two districts, a super-speciality hospital for people below the poverty line.

India produces about 30 million tonnes of crude oil annually, with Asom accounting for about five million tonnes. OIL produces about 3.5 million tonnes of crude in Asom annually, with the ONGC controlling the other half of oil production in the state.

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