Staff Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, May 30 – OIL operations were partially hit in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar districts today following obstruction by Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) for the third time in support of their three major demands from the Oil India Limited (OIL). ATTSA’s 72-hour OIL blockade commenced in the three districts today.ATTSA members prevented entry of OIL vehicles and employees in several oil fields and oil collecting stations in the three districts in support of their demand for halt to oil exploration activities inside tea estates, 30 per cent job reservation for the tea garden working communities and special development package of Rs 100 crore for the working communities of tea industry in Assam. Few ATTSA members also had confrontation with CISF jawans in Dikom tea estate and Bokpara tea estate during the oil blockade.
OIL authorities had two rounds of meeting with ATTSA leaders earlier but the discussions failed to satisfy the student body. ATTSA is opposed to oil exploration activities in tea estates.
Meanwhile, OIL authorities have appealed to the ATTSA leaders to withdraw their agitation and sit for discussion. “We are aware of their development needs and we are ready to help them. But we cannot go against norms and rules of the company. We are open for discussion and ATTSA leaders should come forward,” Tridip Hazarika, manager, Public Relations & Corporate Communications, OIL, Duliajan told The Assam Tribune.
