Heat from burning gas damages crops, trees
Heat from burning of toxic gas at nearby gasfield has damaged paddy on 300 acres and many trees in three villages at Bangora of Comilla. PHOTO: STAR
Paddy on three hundred acres of land and a good number of trees in three villages got burnt allegedly due to the heat from burning of poisonous gas by Tullo Bangladesh Ltd, a company of UK-based Tullow Oil plc, at Bangora gas field in Muradnagar upazila under the district during the last couple of days.
Tullo Bangladesh Ltd is a company of UK-based Tullow Oil plc.
Authorities of Tullo Bangladesh Ltd, engaged in exploration of oil and gas in Block 9 in Comilla, often burn poisonous gas at the time of harvest, much to the harm of ripe paddy on large areas, said Abdul Kaiyum Sarkar, president of Bangora union unit of Awami League, and Sohel Mia, a member of the union parishad.
Fruit trees like mango, jackfruit and litchi are also badly affected due the situation.
"I cultivated paddy on three kathas of land, spending Tk 5,400. But now I cannot hope to get even a maund of paddy as the plants got burnt," said Borhan Uddin, 54, a farmer of Capitala village.
Affected farmers of the three villages -- Khanpura, Chapitala and Bangora -- have demanded compensation for the damage.
Triggering protest by locals who also demanded compensation. PHOTO: STAR
They also brought out a proeession protesting the matter and held a rally in front of gate no 1 of the company a few days ago.
Enayet Ullah Khan, public relations manager of the gas field, said, "Following allegations from the farmers, we told the agricultural department to give us a report about this. If it is proved that the crops were damaged due to burning of poisonous gas, the farmers will get compensation."
As this correspondent sought his cooperation to talk to higher authorities of
Bangora gas field, especially any expert on the matter, the PR manager said, "They will not talk to journalists without permission from the authorities concerned of Petrobangla."
Tapon Ranjan Majumdar, agricultural officer of Muradnagar upazila, said, "I have received a phone call from Tullo Bangladesh Ltd to inspect the area and give a report about the situation. I shall visit the area after two or three days and take proper step in this regard."
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