Students of Tea Tribe of Assam oppose OIL's tender to acquire Balijan TE land

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• May 28, 2022 | Poonam Nath

The Assam Tea Tribe Students' Association (ATTSA) has strongly opposed Oil India Limited's bid to acquire garden land at the Balijan tea estate in Dibrugarh to establish oil fields.

Digital Desk: ATTSA protested Oil India's bid to acquire over 19 bighas garden land to set up oil fields on Thursday (May 26) at Balijan tea estate. 

According to Dibrugarh district ATTSA organizing secretary, Ramen Kanda stated, "Oil India Limited has been trying to procure over 19 bighas garden land of Balijan tea estate for oil fields,"  

He further added, "We oppose the land acquisition process because tea workers rely on the tea garden for a living."

Ramen stated that "Earlier, in 2012, OIL had acquired 26 bighas of Balijan tea estate for setting up of oil field. Oil India has assured us many things but didn't fulfill our demands. Again, OIL has been trying to acquire garden land for the same purpose. We strongly protest the land-grabbing process of Oil India Ltd."

Meanwhile, ATTSA submitted a memorandum to Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu on May 11. "We discussed this with the garden management, and they informed us that the garden has been experiencing difficulties in running smoothly. As a result, they've decided to sell some of the garden lands to OIL, "Kanda explained.

Kanda continued, "If the garden land is sold to OIL, the tea garden workers will have difficulty supporting their families. The garden employs over 2,000 people."

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