Protest against IOC project in Digboi
Guwahati   21-Nov-2011

The proposed shifting project of Tinsukia based IOC (AOD) Terminal, the primary construction of which is being carried out at Golai under Digboi Police Station located about 5 Kms from the oil township, has been posing threat to the locals, beside destroying the hillock of nearby areas. Demonstrating their strong resentment, the people of Golai protested this morning and staged a road blockade to obstruct the heavy vehicles engaged in earth cutting and carrying the same at the construction site plying through the nearby residential areas.

According to the agitated protestors, besides destroying the natural habitat and eroding the hills located in Upper Dehing Reserve Forest, the huge numbers of earth carrying dumpers and JCB have left the road in a dilapidated state, thus demolishing the Shiva temple of Milanpur, established by local people in 1956. Alleging the step-motherly attitude of the IOCL authority towards the people affected by the multi-crore construction project of the Corporation, the demonstrators told media persons in Digboi that the corporation is insensitive to the destruction of valuable trees and related issues.

The victims of the on-going project which started last year had submitted a memorandum to the IOCL management and urged upon the concerned authority to immediately initiate steps for common good.

However, Apurba Kumar Nath, senior Human Resource Manager IOCL (AOD) who visited the site this morning on behalf of the Management, assured the protestors of best possible remedies to the issue. Besides pacifying the agitators Nath, complying with the demands of locals, told that the Corporation would build a new Shiva temple and repair the affected roads soon.