An active and notorious oil theft racket operating in Upper Assam has once again come under the scanner after a fire broke out at an abandoned ONGC oil well in the Nazira area, with authorities suspecting a crude oil theft angle behind the incident.
According to sources, miscreants have been targeting abandoned oil wells left behind by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), particularly in remote tea garden areas, to illegally siphon crude oil. Taking advantage of the absence of security personnel at several such oil fields, these groups have reportedly intensified their activities in recent months.
On Thursday afternoon, miscreants allegedly set fire to an old ONGC oil well located at Bamunpukhuri Tea Estate under the Nazira Co-District. The lack of adequate security at the site is believed to have facilitated the incident, raising serious concerns over the safety of abandoned oil infrastructure in the region.
The area narrowly averted a major disaster reminiscent of the Baghjan blowout, as densely populated residential zones, including large housing colonies of tea garden workers, are situated close to the affected site.
Following the incident, teams from the Nazira Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and, after sustained efforts, successfully brought the fire under control in Sectors 15 and 16. No casualties or injuries were reported.
While it remains unclear whether the fire was deliberately caused as part of an oil theft attempt or due to some other motive, officials said the exact cause would be ascertained only after a detailed police investigation.
Local residents have alleged that illegal crude oil siphoning from abandoned and concealed ONGC oil wells—especially those located within tea garden areas—has been going on for quite some time, posing a serious threat to public safety and the environment.
Nazira Press Club observed the National Press Day at its office on Monday. Senior journalist and writer Durllav Buragohain, Bulu Chetia and ADC Dhiren Hazarika were present in the function.
Giving importance to the aspirations young writers, a new Assamese monthly magazine titled "Prothyabanor Somoi" was launched in Nazira on last Sunday. Raj Axom Laskar is the editor of the magazine.
NGOs in Sivasagar district have come down heavily on ONC’s Assam Asset for improper utilization of the Corporate social responsibility fund. A section of local NGOs moved the higher authority with this complaint seeking their intervention. They blamed a circle senior ONGC officers alleging that they have a slew of hidden interest. They have been favouring a section of unknown organisations and NGOs.
One after another scam seem to have rocked ONGC where a circle of officials and contractors have picked up the first buck. The things have gone to such an extent that a section of contractors have managed award of contract even by producing fake documents. But is it possible without the support of the ONGC officials? A recent contract triggers no less controversy in the ONGC Assam Asset office after the authority awarded it to a firm on the basis of the a set of documents which lack veracity.Identified as M/S Construction Guild the firm managed to get the contract Rs 10 crores in the name of a huge project.According to allegations, the oil giant invited tenders for its Civil...
Congressmen hit the streets in Nazira along with other parts of the state on Monday raising a number of issues confronting the people.Congress protestors in Nazira told Assam Times that the Centre has not implemented the Food Security Bill. Moreover, they said that the NDA government at the Centre has not been able to rein in the price line.Thousands of Congress workers participated in the rally and shouting slogans against the government. They further alleged the curtailment of central funds to the state government to allow the state to suffer in developmental works.aLater they submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the SDO(C) of Nazira Sub division asking him to...
Nazira erupted in massive protest a day after four miscreants, allegedly aided and abetted by a policeman, killed a driver on Friday. Local residents in the upper Assam township spilled into the roads and restricted the movement of the vehicles demanding stern action against the culprits now in police custody.The incident took place on Friday night when a gang of 4 miscreants, who are allegedly involved in the crude oil pilferage, killed an oil tanker driver, Bablu Khan. A section of local residents told Assam Times that the gang who traveled on the car owned by police ASI Hari Narayan Dutta caught Khan to be killed on the spot.The Nazira police station, however, registered a case bearing...
A six year old boy in Nazira is battling for life at the Assam Medical College Hospital in Dibrugarh after he was hit by a car on which civil SDO was travelling on Friday.The incident where Abonit Sahu sustained injury took place at Nazira town in the morning when he was trying to cross the road to be hit by the car bearing No AS 04 L 0004 owned by the senior administrative officer.
Noted historian and leading citizen in Nazira Akhil Paniphukan passed away on Friday. The end of the 90 year old Paniphukan came in the wee hours at his own residence in Nazira town. He is survived by three sons and three daughters.MLA Debobrata Saikia, former minister Dr. Hemoprabha Saikia, left leader Durpod Borgohain, Nazira Press Club, Freelance Journalist Association of Nazira along with many local organizations condoled his death and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Nazira MLA Debobrata Saikia has blamed it all on the Centre for the deplorable road condition in the constituency.Talking to Assam Times, Saikia said the Hindu nationalist party-led NDA government curtailed the funds to the state which is why, the state government is not in a position to repair the roads and bridges.
Along with the rest of the state Nazira observed the 89th birth anniversary of Dr.Bhupen Hazarika with day long songs and dances on Tuesday. The focus of attraction was the Nazira Natiya Mandir where the day long programme pulled huge crowd.
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