GUWAHATI: The 13 day “oil blockade” sponsored by the All Assam Students Union ended peacefully Monday after paralyzing crude oil pumping operations in Assam state and affecting the supply of crude to the Bongaigaon and Barauni refineries.

The pumping stations at Sekoni, Noonmati, Jorhat, Moran and Bongaigaon went dry during the blockade as picketing by AASU volunteers rendered useless the 115km long oil pipeline carrying 5.5 million tons of crude.

The blockade affected the supply of liquid petroleum gas and kerosene in the north east region and destroyed one million kgs of green leaf tea, worth about Rs 10 million from 100 gardens in upper Assam which were in the process of drying due to non-availability of associated gas.

The blockade had also adversely affected working of power plants, gas based plants and the

Hindustan fertilizer.

Despite assurances from the prime minister that no excess crude oil would be pumped out of Assam through the loop line, the AASU had first launched its agitation between August 1520 and extended it by another three days demanding implementation of the Assam accord and scrapping of the loop line scheme.

The harshest criticism came from the petroleum minister, M.S. Gurpadaswamy, who said the country is facing a serious problem due to the gulf crisis. In addition country has lost between Rs 70 crore and Rs 80 crore so far due to the blockade.

He said the blockade was illogical as the government had already paid Rs 120 crore to Assam by enhancing the rate of royalty on oil.

He said the government had decided to invest Rs 8,000 crore in the oil sector in Assam, this included setting up of a refinery at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore.

Gurpadaswamy said the import bill last year was to the tune of Rs 6,400 crore. This year it was likely to go up to Rs 8, 7000 crore if there was no increase in rates.

He said AASU activists are being encouraged to continue the blockade. He asked chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mohanta who was also present at the meeting, “Please maintain law and order. Carry out your responsibility. Maintenance of law and order is a State subject.”

Home minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, too described the blockade as an “irresponsible act” which is worthy of condemnation by all parties. He said blockade on “Il informed grounds” would only aggravate the nation’s problems.

Finance Minister Prof Madhu Dandavate, played the role of a moderator and spelt our various schemes for the region.

 PATINA: At least 40 people have died of cholera and gastro enteritis in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district during the recent floods in the eastern state of Bihar.

The additional chief medical officer, Dr. SBP Sinha, told PTI that over S00 persons in 90 villages were affected by the diseases.

Unofficial sources, however, said the figure was much higher as a large number of patients were undergoing treatment in private nursing homes.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 7, 1990