In view of growing protests in the state against Government of India’s recent decision to open up 12 small state oil and gas fields through global tendering, the Assam government has imposed ban on any kind of strike that would affect operations in oil and gas sectors in the state. The ban comes into immediate effect
The state government through a notification has declared unlawful any strikes by officers, workmen, contract labourers, drivers and helpers of oil tankers involved in the service in the oil or gas sector in the state as per the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance (Assam Act, 1980) for a period of 6 (six) months from the date of issue of the notification until further orders.
The oil and gas sector includes any service in any oil field or oil refinery of any establishment or undertaking dealing with the production, supply or distribution of petroleum and petroleum products including natural gas.
It may be mentioned that voices of opposition is gaining ground against Government of India’s attempt to open up 12 small oil and gas fields in the state with numerous organizations resorting to agitations disrupting operations in oil fields and some of the oil refineries in the state.
Operations in Bongaigaon Refineries in western Assam came to a halt because of such an agitation against oil fields privatization bid. Operations in eastern Assam oil fields and oil and gas company establishments were hampered recently because of another spell of such agitation.