Oil workers allege step motherly attitude of Govt

Guwahati, Nov 30: The North Eastern Oil Workers' Co-ordination Committee (NEROWCC) yesterday reiterated its demand for early merger of the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (BRPL) with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), alleging step-motherly attitude of the Central Government towards the oil sector in the North East region.

Addressing a press meet here, NEROWCC general secretary Biren Kalita said, '' The speedy merger of the BRPL with the IOCL will help increase profit of the BRPL. Politicians and management of the company are creating blockades as they stand to lose power in the face of a complete merger.'' The BRPL had been bought by the Indian Oil as a subsidiary company in 2001, but the workers' association had been demanding complete merger of the company. A complete merger was approved in June, 2005, but modalities for the merger have not been finalised yet.

Mr Kalita said Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora had been informed of the delay twice earlier in the year.

On the first occasion he had assured of a concrete result in 7-8 months, but later, extended the time to 2009, he added.

He said massive agitations would be undertaken if the Government failed to announce the merger soon.

Mr Kalita pointed out that the petrochemicals section of the BRPL had remained closed for the last two years though it was the first refinery unit to have a petrochemical section.

To a poser, he informed that the profit of the BRPL had come down from Rs 478 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 175 crore in 2005-06 owing to rise in crude oil prices, while the price of finished products remained stagnant.

Mr Kailta alleged that the centre was adopting a step motherly attitude towards the oil sector in the region due to which the sector was lagging behind, in spite of being rich in oil resources.

The NEROWCC also demanded exemption of excise duty for oil establishments in NE for another 10 years, the current is expiring in 2007, besides exemption of sales tax on petrochemical products of the NE oil installations.

The organisation wanted the entry tax of 4 per cent on imported crude exempted. The general secretary said, '' A 4 per cent tax on finished products could be kept as is done now.'' The other demands of the NEROWCC included creation of a petrochemical hub in NE, expansion of existing refineries, more investment in refineries and petrochemical units in the region and equity participation of IOCL and ONGC in the gas cracker project at Tengakhata.

They also wanted the development of the oil sector in a bigger way in the region to further the economy and generate employment opportunities in the region.

The workers' group also wanted the privatisation of oil fields in NE to be stopped as oil was a core sector and was actively related with the security aspects of the country.

The general secretary further informed that the NEROWCC would support the all India strike on December 14, called by the central trade unions and federations.

UNI