Guwahati, July 1 (V7N) — Despite successfully capping a high-pressure gas blowout at Well RDS#147A in Assam’s Sivasagar district, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is facing growing criticism for its continued silence on compensating hundreds of displaced villagers affected by the incident.
 
The All Assam Engineers’ Association (AAEA) has urged the Maharatna public sector enterprise to announce an immediate compensation package for more than 330 Assamese families who were forced to evacuate their homes for over two weeks due to the gas leak. The crisis began on June 12 during service operations at the Rudrasagar oilfield when gas began leaking uncontrollably from the well.
 
ONGC’s Corporate Communications office in New Delhi confirmed the blowout and stated that after 16 days of around-the-clock efforts, the well was finally capped on June 27 by ONGC engineers with the help of three international well-control experts. The operation was completed without any reported injuries, fatalities, or fire-related incidents.
 
“This marks a significant technical achievement and demonstrates ONGC’s commitment to safety, engineering excellence, and collaboration with global partners,” the company said in an official statement. ONGC added that it maintained complete transparency throughout the operation, releasing daily press updates and prioritizing the highest standards of environmental and operational safety.
 
However, the absence of a formal compensation announcement has drawn sharp reactions from affected communities and professionals alike.
 
AAEA, a prominent forum of graduate engineers in northeast India, questioned ONGC's inaction. “How many more days does ONGC need to declare compensation for the 330-plus families forced to flee their homes?” asked AAEA president Engineer Kailash Sarma, working president Engineer Nava J Thakuria, and secretary Engineer Inamul Hye in a joint statement.
 
The association also raised concerns regarding the role of SK Petro Services, a private contractor involved in the well's operation. “Was this a compromised setup intended to sidestep responsibility by labeling the well as dry or outdated?” they asked, hinting at possible attempts to deflect liability.
 
On June 16, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the affected site and met with families staying in relief camps. He announced an interim financial aid of ₹25,000 per family from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and reportedly discussed the matter with Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and ONGC Chairman Arun Kumar Singh. During these conversations, the ONGC chief is said to have assured that adequate compensation would be provided.
 
Despite that assurance, ONGC has yet to release an official compensation plan, prompting growing concern among civil society groups and raising questions about accountability from one of India’s largest state-run energy companies.
 
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