ONGC incurrs Rs 50 crore loss after bandh

ONGC has incurred a loss of about Rs 50 crore due to a 100-hours bandh called given by the All Assam Students Union (AASU). Entire work-force of ONGC, at Sivasagar and adjacent areas in Upper Assam were idle during the bandh period and other operational activities were also suspended.

The bandh was called by AASU demanding to fill-up the existing vacanies in Assam asset division of ONGC with a preference to local unemployed youths, declaration of Sivasagar as an oil town, setting up of hostels and medical colleges by ONGC in different parts of the state and the oil giant's involvement in infrastructural development. Claiming the bandh justified, AASU stressed that that the bandh call was justifed to protect the interest of the people of Assam and also to defend the causes of the local unemployed youth. On the other hand according to ONGC while the Assam asset production was only 4 per cent of the total production of ONGC across the country, its staff strength was more than 25 per cent compared to other divisions. Frequent bandh calls especially in oil-rich upper Assam may have far reaching adverse impact on the prospective economic development in the region as a whole. The bandh call may have an impact in oil exploration sector too. Because out of global tenders invited for 20 blocks for oil exploration in the country three belonged to upper Assam districts. Many are apprehensive that the bandh call may scare the global bidders to submit tenders for the Assam asset division.

|  Headlines  |  Editorial   | From Other Publications  |
|  Travel Column   |   News Briefs  |
| OT Main Page | Nena  Home Page  |