ESMA promulgated in Assam oil & gas sector

Guwahati, Aug 18 (PTI) The Essential Services Maintenance(Assam) Act (ESMA) has been promulgated for six months in theoil and gas sector in Assam, which witnessed protests byOpposition parties against the Centre’s decision to auctionsome oilfields. A notification in this regard prohibiting strikes in thesector by officers, workmen, contract labourers, etc wasissued yesterday. The oil and gas sector includes any service in any oilfield or refinery of any establishment or undertaking dealingwith the production, supply or distribution of petroleum andpetroleum products including natural gas, according to thenotification. The oil sector of Assam witnessed protests by Oppositionparties since the Centre decided auctioning of 67 oilfields ofthe country, including 12 in Assam, last month. Meanwhile, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP)today expressed disappointment at the promulgation of ESMA atthe oilfields of Assam in view of the protest against the moveto auction the marginal oil fields. "This is another move of the BJP-led governments at theCentre and state to gag the voice of protest," AJYCP presidentBiraj Talukdar said in a release here. People in this country are denied the right to protesteven after the country celebrated its 70th Independence Day"but we will never bow down to any suppressive tactic of thestate and we will intensify it", he added. PTI DG NNZMN