GUWAHATI, Sept 11: Oil India Limited’s recent measures to tighten control over its land and assets have triggered concerns among sections of communities in Assam’s oil-producing belt, with residents and observers questioning whether the company’s longstanding relationship with local people is changing.
For decades, Oil India was regarded as more than an organisation extracting crude oil and natural gas from Upper Assam. Its presence became closely linked with local communities through initiatives in education, healthcare, sports and community development.
The latest concerns followed a July 19 public notice on “unauthorised occupation and encroachment” of Oil India’s land, property and installations. The company directed people occupying or entering its premises without permission to vacate within 30 days and warned that eviction drives and removal of unauthorised structures would follow, with associated expenses recovered from occupants.
Oil India has maintained that the action is necessary to protect critical infrastructure such as oil and gas wells, pipelines, flow lines and other installations. It has said unauthorised occupation could pose risks to public safety, operations and the environment.
However, sections of residents argue that the approach has raised a wider question about the nature of the company’s relationship with communities that have lived around its operational areas for generations. Oil India was established in 1959 and became a public sector enterprise in 1981. Its expansion in Assam was accompanied by land, cooperation and social acceptance from surrounding communities.
The issue is particularly sensitive in parts of Upper Assam where land histories are complex and traditional rights continue to be claimed by local and indigenous communities. Critics argue that such circumstances require dialogue and consultation alongside enforcement.
The debate has also extended to the use of Oil India’s public spaces. Social organisations have raised concerns over charges for community and educational events at venues associated with the company, including the Oil Bihutoli premises in Duliajan, which has traditionally served as a major public gathering space.
Supporters of the stricter approach argue that a major energy company must protect its assets and maintain operational discipline. Critics, however, contend that a public sector enterprise has responsibilities beyond commercial interests, particularly in regions where its presence has influenced communities for decades.
The challenge for Oil India’s current leadership, headed by Chairman and Managing Director Dr Ranjit Rath, is to balance operational security with the social relationship that has developed around its oilfields.
After 67 years of operations, Oil India’s growth from a regional oil producer into a leading energy company has been shaped by its employees, technological progress and the cooperation of communities surrounding its operational areas. For many residents of Assam’s oil belt, the question is whether that legacy of partnership will continue or give way to greater distance and distrust.
