Natural gas from tubewell, govt inquiry demanded
Natural gas is coming out from a tube-well set up at a village in Bhandaria upazila.
On December 6, locals found the existence of natural gas when a tube-well was being installed at the house of Delowar Hossain at Shinghakhali village of the upazila.
“After a pipe went 35 feet to 40 feet below the surface, a fire started burning as the water of the tube-well came in touch with a burning cigarette. We put out the fire with a thick, wet cloth,” Delowar said.
“When we draw water from the tube-well, natural gas bubbles out. When fire comes in touch with it, the gas begins to burn,” he said.
But after installing the tube-well they are not using the water from it.
Delowar circulated the matter locally and informed the local administration. But no step has been taken by the government authorities even one and a half months after the incident.
“We are afraid as the gas may cause accident in our area,” Delowar said.
“We urge the government to investigate the matter and see if there is natural gas in our village. If gas is found, the government can use it in our area as well as other places,” he said.
Around two years ago, Delowar's neighbour Khalilur Rahman, a teacher by profession, found the existence of gas after installing a tube-well in his house. But he did not disclose the matter. Rather, he kept it hidden by blocking the tube-well.
“I thought if the matter comes to light, I may face trouble,” said Khalilur, adding that he is not willing to install the tube-well as gas comes out and they cannot use the water coming from it.
“Failing to set up a tube-well, people of our village use water from unsafe sources like ponds and canals,” said another local Abdus Salam Sikder, adding that, their suffering increases in the winter as the water level decreases at these water sources.
Pirojpur Deputy Commissioner Abu Ali M Sazzad Hossain said he is aware of the matter.
“I will inform the authorities concerned about the existence of gas in Bhandaria upazila for government to be taken,” he said.
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