Angry villagers force Chevron to stop gas field survey
Angry villagers on Wednesday forced the US company Chevron to stop seismic survey at Baligaon in Kamalganj upazila after some houses developed cracks following explosions carried out during the survey.
The villagers alleged that cracks had appeared on some houses after Chevron carried out two explosions as part of its 3D seismic survey on Moulvibazar gas field. The villagers protested at the move.
They said that they had come out in protest when Chevron carried out a second explosion and forced the workers to leave the place. The company, however, continued work in other parts of the gas fields.
The upazila nirbahi officer of Kamalganj, Hazera Khatun, told New Age that she had visited Baligaon village and found cracks on walls of houses.
She said that the villagers were demanding an assurance of compensations before any more explosions were carried out.
'Our houses shook and utensils jumped', said Rejina Begum and Jahirun Begum, two housewives of the village, about the impact of the detonation.
Gaffar Mia, a farmer, told New Age that many mud- and half-brick houses had developed cracks following the explosions.
The UNO said locals were worried as Chevron's seismic survey was causing damage to their houses.
Hazera said she had visited Noaganj, Madhabpur tea garden, Baligaon and Radhanagar and seen cracks on walls of several houses.
'I heard the sound of the explosion underground. If such explosions can damage houses, no one knows what they [Chevron] are doing in Lawacherra reserve forest.'
Hazera said that no Chevron people had contacted the local administration to inform them about the survey till Thursday after it started the work last month. 'Only today a Chevron official came to talk about what they are doing,' she said.
She said that she wanted an assurance in writing from the company that they would compensate the villagers for the damage.
When contacted, Chevron's director external affairs Nasher Ahmed told New Age that the company had heard about the cracks in some houses and was evaluating the situation.
'We are confident that we will be able to work it out with the local community,' he said adding that the company was using
methods which usually did not cause damages to houses and other structures.
He said that if it was determined that the damages had been caused by the operation of Chevron, the company would repair them.
The villagers alleged that cracks had appeared on some houses after Chevron carried out two explosions as part of its 3D seismic survey on Moulvibazar gas field. The villagers protested at the move.
They said that they had come out in protest when Chevron carried out a second explosion and forced the workers to leave the place. The company, however, continued work in other parts of the gas fields.
The upazila nirbahi officer of Kamalganj, Hazera Khatun, told New Age that she had visited Baligaon village and found cracks on walls of houses.
She said that the villagers were demanding an assurance of compensations before any more explosions were carried out.
'Our houses shook and utensils jumped', said Rejina Begum and Jahirun Begum, two housewives of the village, about the impact of the detonation.
Gaffar Mia, a farmer, told New Age that many mud- and half-brick houses had developed cracks following the explosions.
The UNO said locals were worried as Chevron's seismic survey was causing damage to their houses.
Hazera said she had visited Noaganj, Madhabpur tea garden, Baligaon and Radhanagar and seen cracks on walls of several houses.
'I heard the sound of the explosion underground. If such explosions can damage houses, no one knows what they [Chevron] are doing in Lawacherra reserve forest.'
Hazera said that no Chevron people had contacted the local administration to inform them about the survey till Thursday after it started the work last month. 'Only today a Chevron official came to talk about what they are doing,' she said.
She said that she wanted an assurance in writing from the company that they would compensate the villagers for the damage.
When contacted, Chevron's director external affairs Nasher Ahmed told New Age that the company had heard about the cracks in some houses and was evaluating the situation.
'We are confident that we will be able to work it out with the local community,' he said adding that the company was using
methods which usually did not cause damages to houses and other structures.
He said that if it was determined that the damages had been caused by the operation of Chevron, the company would repair them.
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