Agartala: Feb 07: Residents of South Huruya, a village nestled in the Dharmanagar subdivision of Tripura, have taken to the streets in protest, the destruction wrought upon their electrical infrastructure and vehicles by machinery operated by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The demonstrations escalated significantly on Wednesday morning.
As dawn broke, villagers discovered that electrical wires across various parts of their community lay torn and lifeless on the ground. The high voltage coursing through these wires wreaked havoc on household appliances—e-rickshaws, televisions, refrigerators, and motors—all fell victim to the sudden surge. Reports indicate that some individuals sustained injuries when the live wires plummeted.
Fueled by anger and frustration, the villagers swiftly organized road blockades in the vicinity. Their demands were clear: reparations for the damage inflicted upon their electrical connections. The electricity department intervened, promising swift restoration.
The heart of the issue lies in an ongoing drilling operation conducted by ONGC near the residence of Sudip Bhattacharjee, the head of the South Huruya Gram Panchayat. The operation employs large, unwieldy vehicles, which initially entered the area with official permission to prevent harm to electrical infrastructure. However, in recent days, these vehicles have brazenly entered without authorization, leaving a trail of torn wires in their wake.
The height of the machinery and equipment exacerbates the problem. As they traverse the village roads, electrical lines sag perilously close to the ground. The resultant surges of high and low voltage have inflicted extensive damage on the villagers’ appliances.
In response, the villagers stood firm, demanding compensation from ONGC for their losses. The road blockades were lifted only after the electricity department assured them that repairs would be promptly undertaken. The delicate balance between progress and preservation remains a contentious issue in South Huruya, where livelihoods hang in the balance.
