Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: The Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) launched a two-hour protest on Tuesday against alleged air and water pollution and unemployment among local Tea Tribes youths in the Baghjan–Diyamuli–Dighaltarang OIL belt of Tinsukia district.
“We are not against industrial development or oil production. But even after giving away land and enduring pollution for years, we deserve employment, proper infrastructure, and dignity,” said Irot Tanti, president of ATTSA’s Doomdooma branch.
The protest, organised near installations linked to HAL-Offshore Limited and FGGS operations by the Baghjan Gaon primary unit and the Baghjan-Dighaltarang sub-branch of ATTSA, witnessed hundreds of demonstrators raising slogans against oil-related activities and accusing the authorities of neglecting communities living around the operational areas.
A heavy police deployment was made to maintain law and order during the agitation.
Holding protest banners, the protesters alleged that land belonging to the Baghjan, Diyamuli, and Dighaltarang tea garden areas has been occupied for oil exploration and associated projects since 2002, yet local Tea Tribes youths continue to remain excluded from meaningful employment opportunities.
Tanti further warned that the agitation could intensify if the demands are ignored by the authorities and the companies concerned.
“Today’s demonstration was symbolic and limited to two hours. If our demands regarding pollution control, jobs for local youths, road repairs, and timely payment to temporary workers are not fulfilled, the movement will be intensified democratically in the coming days,” Tanti said.
The organisation also demanded the immediate restoration of roads allegedly damaged by the continuous movement of heavy industrial vehicles and called for the regular payment of wages to contractual labourers engaged in oil-sector works.
After the protest programme concluded, ATTSA leaders submitted a memorandum to officials of the Oil Land Department detailing their demands and seeking immediate intervention.