Pressing for the first time in the history of Digboi Legislative Assembly raising issues on the floor of the House centering round the creation of North East Marketing Regional Office under Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Assam Oil Division), the incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly, Suren Phukan of Digboi Constituency, on Tuesday demanded at the House that the burning problem centering round Digboi Refinery, AOD marketing sector and tea garden related issues surrounding Digboi area be resolved for the behest of the people of Digboi.
Phukan, pointing his fingers towards the alleged conspiracy top IndanOil officials and their step-motherly attitude towards the attainment of the divisional status of the Assam Oil Division, said the status that Digboi rightfully deserves has been snatched away after the marketing sector was shifted to Kolkata.
According to a press communique, from 2008, the control of all marketing activities of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Assam Oil Division), Digboi, was shifted to regional office, Eastern Region, Kolkata.
In the year 2015, all the administrative & financial activities of marketing segment of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd in North East region was also conspired upon and transferred to regional office, Eastern Region, Kolkata.
The alleged conspiracy of the motivated top brass of the Indian Oil leaving behind a platform for unprecedented cries, struggles and movements among the people of Digboi including the hundreds of workers thrown out of employment finally pulled out of Digboi under estimating the sentiments of the local people.
The MLA concerned sought the House’s attention in this regard and demanded immediate creation of a North East Regional office under Indian Oil Corporation limited (Assam Oil Division), Digboi to serve the entire Northeast and revert back all the marketing activities from its Kolkata-based Eastern Regional office to the North-east Regional office under the fold of IOCL, AOD.
He also demanded increase of refinery capacity of Digboi Refinery from 0.65 million metric tons per annum to at least 3.00 mmtpa. Being the oldest refinery in Asia, the capacity of Digboi Refinery has not been adequately enhanced in comparison with other IOCL refineries in India.
Demand for the enhancement of the wages for the tea garden workers and improvement their working conditions by providing adequate basic amenities were also raised on the floor of the House.
Issues of adequate electricity, hospital facilities, schools and other service benefits for the tea community people in and around Digboi were also raised by Phukan.
Provisions for granting land patta to small tea growers and fixation of reasonable price of the green tea leaf were also urged for immediate consideration of the Government of Assam.
After being lauded by other MLAs in the House for the move of Phukan, Parliamentary Affairs and Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary assured on the floor of the House to take up the matter with all seriousness particularly in regard to the issue of creation of Northeast Regional Office for marketing activities under Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Assam Oil Division), Digboi and enhancing the capacity of Digboi Refinery.
It may be added here that Phukan was lauded by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently for being the first among the BJP MLAs across the State to achieve 100 per cent in implementing and accomplishing various socio-economic schemes and projects allotted for the development of the people and the constituency.