Bant: Even as some teams of ONGC have been carrying out oil exploration in various parts of north Orissa, deafening explosions during the work reportedly shake residential structures, triggering panic among the people in Bant area of Bhadrak district.
According to reports, in depth drilling in every two km is followed by blasts. The teams collect samples of rock, earth and water which are blasted forth from the depth of the ground.
Oil exploration is being conducted at Kusabenti, Olam, Kusunpur, Odanga, Suanpada and other villages. Locals alleged patches of farmland with standing paddy crops suffer damage due to the activity.
The residents of Odanga village complained that Tuesday’s blasts were so intense that a number of concrete and mud houses were shaken.
Khirod Malick, a resident, said, “Many non-Oriya officials have camped in the village. Though we have opposed their activity and intimated our problems to them, they fail to understand our language.”
Monday, the team started drilling a farmland in Kusunpur, but the villagers strongly opposed it. The team intimated the matter to the collector over phone. Many administrative officials immediately rushed to the village, but they did not pay heed to the complaint of villagers and rather helped the team carry on its work, the villagers alleged.
Asked about the villagers’ allegations, tehsildar in-charge of Bant Basant Kumar Lenka, said, “These teams are delegated by the Central government. The Central government has issued letters to the state government and the collectors seeking their permission in oil exploration work. Blasts will not be carried out within 200 metre distance from villages. I am surprised to hear that exploration work is carried out in close proximity of villages.” PNN
