PM assures all support for relief and rehabilitation of affected families
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through video-conference and reviewed the progress of control measures being carried out at Baghjan gas well, which erupted into flames on June 9 along with government relief operations to provide succour to the affected families.
The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority at New Delhi. Chief Minister Sonowal while apprising the Prime Minister about the latest situation at Baghjan, said that people in the nearby areas are still in panic as the gas well could not be capped till now.
He said that tremors are being felt into areas of three-kilometre radius from the Baghjan gas well site which also caused damage to houses creating further fear among people. He also informed that experts from NEIST and IIT Guwahati have been entrusted to study this phenomenon.
Thanking Prime Minister for his proactive steps on the issue, Chief Minister Sonowal said that as soon as fire broke out, four minister of the State Government camped at the site and supervised the relief operations. Informing that an economic package has been announced for Baghjan area, Sonowal said that state government has earmarked an amount of Rs 27 crore for bringing permanent solution to the problems of floods and erosion in Baghjan.
Apart from that, one model hospital, a veterinary hospital, a model higher secondary school, steps for development of the Tinsukia-Baghjan road, converting Maguri-Motapung Beel into an international tourist destination by both OIL and state government, providing financial assistance to 300 women SHGs of the area, setting up a skill development centre etc. have also been announced, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is personally monitoring the control measures, which are being carried out by foreign and Indian experts. He further informed that local people have now been confident about their security with the steps taken by the Government and extending cooperation in the initiatives of the Government.
