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.
The All Assam Students Union in Nazira staged dharna on Monday demanding immediate construction of the proposed 300 bedded Super speciality hospital in Demow. Over 1000 AASU activists thronged ONGC’s Assam Asset office main gate to reiterate the demand. The oil and gas giant announced the Rs 1,00 crore hospital at Rajabari in Demow. Later the protestors submitted a memorendum to the ONGC CMD through the Executive Director asking the PSU to listen to the demand. During the UPA regime, then petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily laid the foundation stone last year. But the things have not progressed further.
Defying Supreme Court directives, Illegal coal tradings are going on in Nazira without any hindrance. Behind this illegal tradings are a section of police officials who have been aiding and abetting the dishonest traders to carry out the dirty deals in coal. The power circle has been remaining active in Lashmija, Bihubor, Gelakey along with a few other places in Nazira sub division. A number of coal depots has allegedly been running in the full knowledge of the district administration along the Assam-Nagaland border areas under the patronage of a circle of powerful politicians who have been helping police and traders. The Sivasagar district administration has banned...
An 18 years old girl commited suicide in Nazira sending shock wave across the entire area on Sunday. Identified as Suchila Nayak, she committed suicide at Simaluguri on Saturday night. She worked as a helper at the residence of Dr.Prabin Konwar for the last couple of months. Her father Subu Nayak of Lakuw Rangagarah has lodged a complaint at the Simaluguri police station . The reason of the extreme step was not known.
The Nazira Pragati organised a day long training on animal husbandry which evoked encouraging response from the local residents on Saturday. Sivasagar KVK specialist Dr.Rofikul Islam conducted the training to be participated by over 30 local residents. Dr Islam focused the viability and commercial farming of poltary, pigary, goatery etc.
Believe it or not! There is a court in Nazira. The court functions normally. But strange are the ways of the authorities. The condition is unbelievable. The functionings take place even without essential furniture not to speak of others. The litigants, advocates and even the judges are bearing the brunt. Apart from these, lack of drinking water causes no less inconvenience to the people. But the authorities are yet to blink.
Nazira police is investigating notorious fake appointment racket acting on a recent complaint. According to information available with Assam Times, police investigation is underway after Anjina Begam of Chantak BorMishing Gaon moved Nazira police alleging that the sub inspector of Nazira education block Kuldip Talukdar took Rs. 1,20,000 from her as a bribe for a false appointment order in the Karmashree Hiteshwar Saikia Memorial LP school of Chakimukh. Police have registered a case bearing No 172/14 under IPC 161/294/34.
The Freelance Journalist Association of Nazira and PRAGATI, a non governmental area felicitated renowned historian Akhi Paniphukan at his residence recently. Paniphukan, who wrote several books on Ahom era has been suffering from illnesses. Both organizations feliciated him with Chalang Sadar, Gamusa and Hombardha patra and wished his speedy recovery.
Japanese encephalitis start wreaking havoc in Nazira again. The killer disease has so far claimed one person. This is apart from over ten person undergoing treatment in the various hospitals. Identified as Sukhen Borgohain, the inhabitant of Motheiachiga died of Japanese encephalitis recently when he was undergoing treatment at the Assam Medical College Hospital in Dibrugarh. But the department is yet to intensify measures to contain the situation.
Nazira is a small town. But the problems confronting it for the last couple of years are huge. The common people are bearing the brunt. Nazira Municipal Board, Nazira Town Block of the Bharotiya Janata Party staged dharna in front of Nazira Natiya Mandir recently demanding steps to solve the problems. They submitted a memorandum to the civil SDO demanding steps to ensure development of Nazira Town. They further demanded a Children park at in the town apart from steps to properly protect and preserve the historic monuments. /
At a time when poor people have been making long queue for a drop of kerosene in front of the shops, a section of black marketers has been making money in Nazira. The shops, mostly, refuse to sell kerosene citing scarcity. But the kerosene meant for PDS have been flooding the open market. Local residents in Nazira told Assam Times that aided and abetted by a section of food and civil supply department officials, the black marketers have been making money by selling PDS kerosene in the open market. Despite repeated complaints, police and civil supply department have been failing to deal with the black marketers who have been...
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