Chapter-1

Introduction

1.1. General Information

Bangladesh is located in the northeastern part of South Asia between 20⁰34’-26⁰ -26⁰38’ N and 80⁰01-92⁰41’ E. The area of country is 14.75 hectares, mostly composed of plains (80 percent), except some hilly areas (12 percent) concentrated in the east and southeast of the country. In land use, 9.12 million ha are under cultivation, 1.91 million ha under public forest, 0.27 million ha under village groves, and 1.64 million ha remain constantly under water. The other land areas (1.81 million ha) are occupied by tea gardens, fallow lands, rural and urban houses, ponds, etc. (Kibria et al. 2000). The country enjoys a subtropical climate with distinct rainfall and dry periods. The annual of the country ranges from1270 to 5080 mm. Average daily temperature varies from 11⁰-34⁰C. In summer, the temperature varies from 36.7⁰-40.4⁰ and in winter 7.2⁰-23.3⁰ C (BBS 1994).

Bangladesh is blessed with various natural resources. Natural Gas is one of them. In Bangladesh there are total 21 Gas field out of which 8 are in the greater in Sylhet region (Shaptahik 2000, 2002). Several incidents of gas explosion have taken place over here. In 1997 1^st explosion has occurred in Magurchara, in 2005 two gas blowout twice in Dowarabazar at Tengratila Gas field. First blowout was in 7^th January and the total loss incurred were less than the second time, which is occurred in 24^th June and flames leap to 500 feet, existing more than ten days. By this second blowout surrounding villagers lost their land, houses, trees and natural resources like and became vulnerable to environment and people suffered a lot. The natural system of life style was heavily disrupted. Some people were able to survive with that unfavorable environment but their social and economical status have already been changed. Man, environment and culture these three things are interrelated. Man adapted with the new culture and society (Haris 1968). All man is adapted with their society and environment. When the environment of a particular place is disturbed or disorder, the dwellers of that place obviously suffer by that complexity (Smith 1998). In this condition, culture plays a very much important role for the people to adapt with their nature and new environment and culture developed some sort of technological and natural strategy to survive. By this new technological strategy the society and culture are shaped to a new formed. By the Gas burning of Tengratila the environmental condition has changed and the people’s lives became threatened. As the people are affected by the blowout, they fall into miserable condition. The affected villages due to gas blowout are Tengratila khoieajure,Shantipur, Gresh Nagar & Azabpur. Among these Tengratila (local name Tengra) is the most affected one. During 2^nd time blowout it became barren village. All left their houses, because they were afraid of the massive disaster.

1.2. Objectives of the Study

Now a day’s environment is a big concern through the world. As a result of blowout in the gas field of Tengratila, environment is severely affected. On the basis of objectives the researchers collect the data, analysis the data. Before the blowout, in the area, life style from generation to generation depending on the relationship with ecology and traditional rules. But after the blowout the whole existing rules and tradition has been postponed. In this research the broad objective is to explore how and what socio-economic impact on the blowout areas people’s life and the people’s coping strategy in Gas disaster areas.

There are some other specific objectives regarding this issues-

1. To know the environmental impact on the surrounding people.

2. To determine the change in livelihood.

3. To determine the effect on agricultural, education, health etc.

1.3. Rationality of the Project

This research is attempts to realize the adaptive strategy of the people at Tengritala after the blowout. There is a massive change in their life style due to blowout. The study it has to be found to observe the indigenous knowledge according to their survival strategy in blowout area. It also tried to find out the hydrology, agriculture and the disaster management associated in the certain tropical settings. Finally, this research would be an attempt to make linkage between the knowledge and the practical life.

1.4. Limitation of the Project

The study attempts to explore the various impacts occurred due to the gas explosion. As the study demands sufficient secondary data to materialize validity of collected primary data, efforts have been made to make the study as reliable as possible. But still the present study faced the following constraints:

1) Poor communication.

2) Absence of data base on the impacts.

3) Time constraints address the issues of environment and livelihood.

4) Sometimes respondent were biased.

Chapter-2

Review of Literature

Several article published in, The Bangladesh Observer, The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, Amardesh, The Independent and The New Nation (2005), that NIKO a Canadian company is responsible for the gas exploration and extraction from Feni and Dowarabazar gas fields. A prove committee found NIKO guilty of not going by the safety rules, yet it was allowed to restart works from June 1. After 24 June fire that shows no sign of relenting its fury, there is every reason to believe that NIKO has no experience for expertise to do the job. After the first blowout no sane man can think of restarting work without creating. The safety passage of a relief well because there is every possibility of gas accumulating in pockets after the first accidents. It’s the dubious deal the government clinched with a company disqualified in the bidding back in 1997 that was the root of the problem. The company has however, condescended to pay some compensation to the affected villagers in the locality, but this is only after fresh blowout. The timing of the payment shows that it might not have gone for the trouble if his second accident did not take place. Repeated 50 it’s were experience in three Km area around the gas field. In the name of gas field development, the Canadian company NIKO is repeatedly causing disaster for the nation. The local people have been suffering from various unknown diseases did not get there minimum compensation after the 7^thJanuary exploration and there is no security of the inhabitants of the neighboring villages. The international conspiracy for the plundering our national wealth is responsible for such disaster. Coal, Sand and Stone are coming out of the burning well and speeded 3/4 Km area. Various diseases, especially respiratory problem have broken out in the areas with the degradation of environment due to the blowout. The ecology and the environment are faced an unrecoverable lose this time. Similar this had happened in Magurchhara gas field in 1997. Flora and Fauna within 100 acres of areas have burned into ashes. The adjacent roads, school, house, forest, tea estate were seriously damaged. It has created a permanent hazard among the people’s living in these area. Lives and livelihoods of the innocent people living adjacent to the Tengratila gas field is not at stake. It is estimated that due to the Tengratila blowout the environment has lost in terms of money is $ 105 million. The ecologist fears that the soil of the adjacent areas will be taking at least 50 years to be worth of growth corps. The gas sector is now under the grip of a syndicate of a corrupted people.

Mahmud (2005), highlighted feasibility and policies issues of gas sector influences the economy of Bangladesh. He also tried to make a link with international arena considering its issues economic potentialities. Bangladesh has-been endowed with large potential reserves of natural gas that made it important to world energy markets. The country has already been identified to be the hub of energy in the south Asian region. Bangladesh adopted a number of policies since the beginning of 1990s to facilitate the expansion of the private sector and increase the inflow of foreign investment in the energy sector. Due to the growing interest of the Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in the energy sector Of Bangladesh there had been “tremendous optimism over Bangladesh economic future.’ Bangladeshlooked set to “emerge South Asia’s next success story”.

Shapthahik chutirdine (2005) mentioned that the blowout had a disastrous effect on the ecosystem of the surrounding region by destroying the dense vegetation, villages, agricultural lands and other property. The soil of the region had been seriously affected by the explosion. The soil has not only lost its fertility, but also become inappropriate for construction for heavy structure. The gas fire denuded the surrounding homestead forest, rich in flora and fauna. The land will be not good for trees, crops, vegetable for 50 years, according to soil scientists. Environmentalists said that the region would be facing a very serious loss of green cover and extinction of wildlife species. The damage to the environment was multiplied due to the prolonged period for which the fire continued. WFD (Well flow Dynamics) whose personnel were mobilized and integrated in the relief well drilling team, in their report said that the blowout caused “damaging to the plantation, forest.”

The Department of Environment (2005), submitted a report to determine the loss of environment. Before submitted the report they make a committee which investigate the affected area and review the other blowout. They determine the following loss of environment:

The soil of the surrounding field is more affected. Generally the configuration of land of the areas is northeast hilly, northeast alluvium and some areas Sylhet basin. As result of blowout the surroundings areas hill, rift valley, small mound, and low lands were affected by the emission of gas and sand. Surroundings of the blowout area like Tengrabazar, homestead area, forest trees, and hilly fruit bearing trees are affected by the fire. Under ground sand and clay soil were throughout with gas from main field to 2-3 km areas of the Tengratila. Total loss of soil resources are divided into 4 categories. These are as follows:

1. More affected areas.

2. Very affected areas.

3. Moderate affected areas.

4. Small affected areas.

1. More affected areas:

Surroundings of the main blowout areas hill, rift valley, hilly alluvium and low land areas 50 hectors land are more affected. When researcher visits the area he saw that gas was still emitted from that area. Afresh the areas like before blowout need 10 years.

2. Very affected areas:

Very affected areas are spread out from main field to 2 km areas. It was seen that gas were emitted some of that area. Cultivation is very risky in that areas specially rift valley and under the rift valleys. It is think that, minimum 3 years need to afresh the areas soil conditions like before blow out. To afresh the fertility of the agricultural land needs more fertilizer.

3. Moderate affected areas:

Moderate affected areas are spread out 2-4 km from main blowout areas. To afresh the areas soil conditions need 2 years.

4. Small affected areas:

Small affected areas are spread out from 4-8 km from main blowout areas. To afresh the soil condition need 1 year.

By analysis of the soil sample of the affected areas comparison with before blow out (20020) change of green manure are moderate to low, calcium are moderate to high, magnesium are high to low, phosphorus are low to very low, gonddok are moderate to low, dosta are limited to low. This variation is shown in a table:

Table 1: Afresh the fertility of the areas, need of total fertilizer and its economic value.

Fertilizer	Total	Economic value (Taka)
Green manure	12,000	1,21,00,000.00
Dolomite	2,8oo	9,65,000.00
Urea	136	23,55,150.00
T.S.P	73	9,75,380.00
Gypsum	60	179,953.00
Zinksulphate	9	3,77,622.00
Total		1,70,43,105.00

Table 2: Average result of the analysis of sample soil of tengratila affected areas

Elements	Before blowout (2002)	Present Condition
Green manure	Moderate	Low
Calcium	Low	Very low
Magnesium	High	Very low
Nitrogen	Low	Very low
Phosphorous	Low	Very low
Gonddok	Moderate	Low
Dostta	Limited	Low

The committee also determines the effect of air. As result of both blowouts the air is more affected. More carbon dioxide and methane mixed with air by burning of gas during blowout which polluted the air. Environmental pollution is done by burning of gas and by seepage of gas .The burning of gas not only affected the air but also the vegetation, man animals, and other materials. Sand also mixed with the air and fall so far which effect the eye problem of the man and other animals. This sand also fallen the agriculture land which damages the fertility of the land. There was 280828 ton carbon dioxide emitted through the atmosphere which affects the sequestration benefit. The atmospheric pollution has two term effect that are short term effect and long term effect. Short term effect were those period when affect the health of the human and others like respiratory problem, viral infection, allergy. The flame of the fire also affects the man. Birds and other wild animals also burnt by the fire of the blowout.

Table 3: Burning of gas in the air from direct combustion

Burning of gas in the air (Direct combustion)					Est. Value of Sequestration of per ton Co2 @15 US $	Est. value in BDT
Total gas				Co2	Est. Value of Sequestration of per ton Co2 @15 US $	Est. value in BDT
Bcf	scf	Nm3	Tone	Tone
2.8	2800000000	78400627	66,311	182,365
Venting of gas (Seepage)
Total gas
Bcf	scf	Nm3	Tone	Tone
0.198	198000000	5544,044	4,689	98,472
Total carbon dioxide Eq>>				280828	4,212422	278019864
Comments: Density of natural gas= 0.0008458, emission factor= 2.75 and global warming factor= 21 (100 years)

The committee also determines the other loss like loss of natural gas. Gas was more burnt than the first blowout. The committee mentioned in their report in first blowout 1 billion cft gases was burnt. On the other hand 1.8 billion cft gas was burnt in 2^nd blowout. 0.198 billion cft gases were mixed with the air by bubbling. Totally 2.98 billion gas was damage by fire.

They also determine the vegetation loss. The loss of vegetation shown in a table:

Table 4: Valuation of vegetation loss.

Village	Loss of vegetation during 1^stblowout		Loss of vegetation during 2^ndblowout		Total
Ajabpur	Family	Taka	Family	Taka	1,92,82,754.00
Ajabpur	40	14,010,904.00	53	52,71,850.00	1,92,82,754.00
Tengratila	33	88,19,210.00	60	49,74,347.00	1,37,93,557.00
Total	73	2,28,30,114.00	113	1,02,46,197.00	3,30,76,311.00

The committee also determines the other losses like loss in business, loss in agriculture, impact in health, damage to water sources, damage to ecosystem.

Hussain and Shahjalal (2001), argued that environmental disorder is play on the reverse of social activities. For removing from social difficulty, technology, politics, development and population are also linked with that environmental violence and pollution is the direct effect of that region. To control the natural disaster, the knowledge of natural science is not enough, it is essential the help of social science knowledge to solve the problem. Environment is not only the phenomena of natural interaction but also the interaction of human behavior.

Singh (1989) argued that as a result of explosion may undesirable change in the physical, chemical, biological, characteristics of air, water, and land that harmfully affect the human life, desirable species, cultural assets, or deteriorate any resources. Pollution increase is not only because of improper management of resources. All the cost of environmental degradation is measured in three ways:

1) The loss of resources through unnecessary wasteful exploitation.

2) The cost pollution abatement and control;

3) The cost of human health: human mortality from infection of diseases, sickness , cancer, environmental stress on human body etc are because of pollution in air, water, vegetation, and land.

With the increase of mineral production in the country, areas of production doomed to become waste lands unless serious conservation and reclamation measures undertaken now. Mining ruins the land, water, forest, and air. The loss or pollution of natural resources degrades the quality of the human life of the areas.

In arid and semi arid regions, where restoration of the fragile ecosystem is very low, mining adds significantly to other desertification pressures. The total destruction of various species of trees and natural vegetation and development of soil salinity due to mining has degraded land around queries. Most of the mining activity is being carried out in forested regions, which result in deforestation and erosion. Gas explosion has destroyed the vegetation and the area under tree cover. Mining waste pollutes streams and rivers. All pollutants derived from mining, accumulate in river water carried by the rainwater. Poor tribal are most suffering from the river water pollution. Minerals dusts from mining activity are released in the atmosphere and finally throughout wind blow it pollutes the atmosphere of the region.

Reclamation of the mining lands should be the basic strategy to minimize the damage. Mining waste should be dumped in the barren areas and upper soil of the mining lands should be kept above the dumped soil for rehabilitation by planting pioneer grasses and suitable hardy species. Under ground mining should be at least 100 meter because if mining is done below this level, it will not effect the vegetation. The basic principles of soil and water conservation, afforestation, regeneration of vegetation and control of air and water pollution are to be followed at every stage of mining.

Fig1. Map of the Research Area (Dowarabazar thaana)

Chapter-3

Materials and Methods

An exploratory survey on Tengratila gas explosion and impacts on environment was carried over a period of six month ranging from October, 2005-March, 2006. The study was based on primary data collected from the affected people with a semi structured questionnaire field observation and interview with local and affected people mere the main tools to gather information secondary data and information mere also used for the study purposes.

3.1. Selection of the study area

Among the affected villages were selected as the study area.

3.2. Description of the study area:

3.2.1. Location of the area

Tangratila gas field is located in under the Dowarabazar Thaana at Laksmipur union, sunamgong district with an area of 281.4 sq.km bounded by Meghalaya state of India on the north, Chhatak Thaana, on the south and east, Sunamgong sadar Thaana on the west.(BBS, 1991).

3.2.2. Physical features

3.2.2.1: Geology

The geology of Dowarabazar Thaana is not uniform. The land is hilly and surrounded by tilla. The rest of the area is plain.

3.2.2.2. Soil

Soil of the area belongs to the red brown terrace soil, gray terrace soil and deep brown terrace soil. The top soil tenure ranges form silt loam to silt clay loam.

3.2.2.3. River system

Three rivers are flowed through the Thaana. The major rivers are surma. Other rivers are Jadukata and Bagra. Besides these rivers a number of cannels and streams crossed-crissed the area. Surma River flows along the boundary of Dowarabazar Thaana.

3.2.2.4. Land classification and land uses

The total cultivated land of Laksmipur union is 6745 hector. Configuration of the land of the area is northeast hilly under AEZ-29(Agro Ecological Zone), northeast hilly alluvium under AEZ-22, and Sylhet basin under AEZ-21. These lands are classified single cropping land, double cropping land, treble cropping land. Among the peasant 45.27% are land less, 13.7% marginal, 17% small,17% are intermediate, and rich peasant 7.03%. Market value of land is about Tk 4000-5000 per 0.01 hectare (Banglapedia , 1999). The major agricultural crops cultivated paddy, wheat, linsed, chickpa, blackgram, mustard oil, ground nut, gam, potato, sugercane, turmeric, cotton.

3.2.2.5. Climate

The area lies in the semi drier part of the Bangladesh. The maximum temperature is usually 30°C during the month of May and minimum temperature is about 10°C during the month of January. Summer is starts from April and lasts till June and winter is starts from December and lasts to till February. The monsoon period ranges from May-September (BBS, 1991).

3.2.3. The geographical features of the area

The geographical features of the areas are northeast hilly, northeast hilly alluvium and some are Sylhet basin. The study site Tengratila is situated near the river ofSurma and beside the village there is a khasiamara rivulet which has lost her navigability. According to historical information of the village hundreds of years ago there were numerous hills in the village. There were also different types of floweret trees in the village. So, combination with hills and floweret had shaped the village name ‘Tengratila’. Total population is about 1500 people, Male is more than the female persons. There are 75 ponds, 3 duck firm in this village. The people of this village are geographically submissive and tranquil. Two types of people are living here, one has been living for generation to generation while the another group of people has come from district of Norshingdi. There is peaceful relationship between these two groups.

3.2.4. Socio-Economic description

According to the 2001 population census total population of the Dowara Thaana is 1, 86,727. Among this 87% live in the rural area and 22.89% live in the urban areas. The population density of the Thaana is 765 sq.km. Among the population no of males are 94,520 and females are 92,207. The literacy rate of this Thaana is 35%. The main occupation is agriculture and other type of occupation is services, business, fisheries, poultry etc.

3.3. Reconnaissance survey

Orientation visits in the selected areas were made before starting the field work. At this stage informal discussion was held with affected people, teacher of school, chairman of Union Parishod, and other people of the area. On the objectives other relevant fields were visited.

3.4. Selection of respondent

116 families were more affected as a result of explosion. So when survey was made they were not available in that area. I only found some family in the affected area and made survey. I have tried my best to select the experienced that were able to provide relevant, available and correct information about the study. Data were tried to collect from both male and female members.

3.5. Collection of primary data

Relevant primary data were collected from affected people through field survey by using pre-tested semi structured questionnaire. Inter personal i.e. face to face communication method was applied during the interviews. The questionnaire addressed relating to the vegetation loss, environmental impact, health problem, social impact, educational impact and other associated information. All data were collected through interviews of the respondents.

3.6. Collection of secondary data

Secondary data is not available for the relevant topics. Researcher tried to collect data from different sources like internet, Department of Environmental (DoE),Forest department, BELA (Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association), SDF (Sylhet Disaster Forum), Daily News papers, seminar library, central library of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Map and other demographic information were collected from statistics office, LGED of Dowarabazar Thaana.

3.7. Sorting of data

Finally all the information gathered from the field, respondent and other data were analyzed carefully. All the secondary data were sorted carefully and other only necessary and relevant information were set aside for compilation and analysis to avoid unnecessary bulk of the paper. Intensive care was also taken regarding the applicability, reliability and validity of information.

3.8. Data analysis and Compilation

The required information sorted out were compiled to prepare meaningful master data sheet then manipulated into convenient form as used in the result and discussion.

Chapter-4

Result and discussion

Analysis of collected data is presented in this chapter, which describes the general features of demographic and socio-economic variables. These include distribution of simple percentage and averages. This chapter also includes the discussion and analysis of collected data regarding the trends of Tengratila gas explosion and impact on environment and livelihood.

4.1. Demographic features of the study area

Total population of the owners' family was found to be 87 averaging 5.8 members per family ranging from 3 to 13.

Table 5: Age class of the respondents' family members:

Sex	Age (year) Class							Total	Percentage
	<10	10-20	21-30	31-40	41-50	51-60	>60
Male	10	9	7	6	7	3	3	45	52
Female	9	7	10	10	2	2	2	42	48
Total	19	16	17	16	9	5	5	87	100
percentage	22	18	20	18	10	6	6

Male: Female = 1000: 933

As shown in Table 5 among the total population 52% was found to be male and 48% were female. Below 10 years age class comprised 22% of total population followed by 21-30.10-20 and 31-40 years age classes comprising 20%, 18% and 18% respectively. Male-Female ratio was found to be 933 female per thousand of male.

4.2. Socio-economic condition

4.2.1Education

Table 6: Literacy status of the respondent’s family:

Education Level	Sex		Total N=78
	Male N=42	Female N=36
Illiterate	10(24)	16(45)	26(33)
Primary	10(24)	8(22)	18(23)
Secondary	12(28)	9(25)	21(27)
Higher Secondary and above	10(24)	3(8)	13(17)
Total	42(100)	36(100)	78(100)

Note: N indicates Total population; Figures within parenthesis shows the percentage. Children below 6 years were not considered in counting.

The study area the literacy rate was found to be 67 %( table-6). Among the total population, about 27% found to have secondary education and 23% had primary education. Among the males, 76% were literate while about 28% had secondary education. Males having education of primary and higher secondary & above comprised 24% in both cases. Among the females, literacy rate was found to be 55% and 25% had secondary education. The literacy rate among the females was less compared to the males.

4.2.2 Occupation

In the study area the main occupations were found to be agriculture, poultry, dairy, business, service etc. Agriculture was found to be major primary occupation comprising one-fourth (about 25%) of total population (table-7) followed by poultry and dairy comprising 23% and 9% respectively. Among the males, agriculture was the major primary occupation comprising 48% followed by business and service comprising 14% and 12% respectively. Among the females half (50%) were found to be engaged in poultry faming whereas 19% and 3% of females were engaged in dairy farming and service respectively. Besides, it was found that only

42% of total population had significant secondary occupation of which about 14% and 13% were engaged in agricultural farming and business respectively.

Table 7: Occupation pattern at Tengratila:

Occupation	Primary			Secondary
Occupation	Male N=42	Female N=36	Total N=78	Male	Female	Total
AgriculturalFarming	20(48)	0(0)	20(25)	11(26)	0(0)	11(14)
PoultryFarming	0(0)	18(50)	18(23)	0(0)	2(6)	2(3)
Business	6(14)	0(0)	6(8)	10(24)	0(0)	10(13)
Service	5(12)	1(3)	6(8)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)
Dairy Farming	0(0)	7(19)	7(9)	3(7)	4(11)	7(9)
Others	11(26)	10(28)	21(27)	2(5)	0(0)	2(3)
Total	42(100)	36(100)	78(100)	26(62)	6(17)	30(42)

Note: N indicates Total population; Figures within parenthesis shows the percentage.

4.2.3 Income

Table 8: Monthly income of the respondent’s families

Income (Tk.)	Percentage of families
>1000	13
1001 -2000	7
2001-3000	13
3001-4000	13
4001-5000	27
.>5000	27
Total (N=15)	100

Note: N indicates total number of family.

It was found that maximum 27% families earns Tk. 4001-5000 and >5000 and income classes belong to Tk. <1000, 2001-3000 and 3001-4000 comprised 13 percent of the total families in each case (table-9).

4.2.4. Land holding

Table 9: Land ownership pattern of respondents:

Land (Acre)	Percentage of the families
<2	20
2.1-4	60
4.1-6	7
>6	13
Total (N=15)	100

Note: N indicates total family.

From the table-8 it was found that 60% of the families occupied 2.1-4 acres of land followed by 20%, 7% and 13% of the families having<2, 4.1-6 and >6 acres of land by respectively.

4.3. Impacts of Gas Explosion on Environment

Due to the explosion in the gas rig of Tengratila several impacts taken place in and around the area. Total environment is heavily effected by the explosion. Air, water, vegetation, agricultural land, fisheries farm, health etc. are greatly affected by the blowout. Various types of impacts are described below:

4.3.1 Environmental Impact

People and environment are very much correlated and they depend on another. If one goes under the threat obviously another come under danger (Rappapurt1984). For that why, the people’s survival strategy can be changed and it would be difficulties to survive there. All the people have to apply a new strategy to cope with the neo ecological condition. The culture plays a vital role between man and environment as a interpreter. Nature is exploited by the human culture. So, when the environment comes under threat the first of all the culture receive the first shock of change (Milton 1996).

During the 2^nd blowout in Tengratila all the surrounding villagers depart from the village to safety destination, their relatives or familiar houses. Their houses, lands, crops, all daily necessary useful things, trees, plants, and cattle every thing destroyed and damaged by blazing. The people lived by the mercy of the nature. When nature has received this injure the people’s life became very much vulnerable. Before the blazing the villagers were able to maintain their life by their own production, but for the blowout they have to compel to sell their main crops, cattle to the market and with this money they bear their familial expenses.

Their income has changed in so rapidly that they cannot even balance with the changing situation. After 12 days later when they came back home they found that all their necessary things have burn to ashes. They tried to repair houses, but shortage of money they depend on other sources. People are very much dependent on environment of this area. By the burning of trees and plants they are now failed to produce any more production. All the villagers are Muslims and they believe that this blowout was not natural one but obviously man made disaster. They blamed the assigned company NIKO. Here it is very clear that the people are related with environment and the blowout linked them with chance. Religion is a part of a cultural arrangement and when the environment comes under in danger which comes from their culture the human activity now should be to satisfy the environment (Appadurai 1996). They rearranged their budget and fall into difficulty from other parts. The result of it is very much adverse in future.

In short the total environmental hazard by the gas explosion can be summarized by following features

1. All the surrounding trees and plants have been burnt to ashes.

2. The Villagers are in fearful and anxiety thinking that soon they are going to face another difficult situation like the previous one.

3. Fishes suffered diseases.

4. By sand, oil, coal and sound pollution and the effect of gas 80% people are suffering from headache and eye irritation.

5. The children are suffering from respiratory diseases.

6. All the fruits trees such as Jackfruits, Litchi was totally damaged.

7. Arsenic is mixed with soil and damaged the soil fertility and also damaged crops.

8. Increase the probability of earthquake.

9. Total ecosystem was severely affected.

4.3.2. Impact on vegetation

Due to the explosion the flora of the area is affected significantly. Trees, forest resources, and shrubs are more affected by the gas explosion. When surveyed was made the respondent said that various types of trees need to growing up 20 to 30 years plantation to present stage. Surrounding vegetation of the gas field was more affected. There were many jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophylus) garden surroundings of the field were totally damage. There were many supari (Acacia catechu) garden which was also damage by the flame of the fire. Tengratila and its surroundings village are rich in homestead forestry, which was more affected by the fire of the explosion. A surveyed was conducted by the forest department, which measures the loss of forest resources. Various types of homestead forestry species damage by the explosion jackfruit, supari, litchi, boroi, tetul, raintree, and many other species. Many respondents said that they earned more money by selling the fruits of the various species. They get also fuel wood from their homestead forest. Maximum of the respondent depend on the homestead forest, which was damage by the explosion. This explosion has a long-term effect on the vegetation. Once upon a time it was fulfill by the vegetation but now the surroundings of the field were found very small number of tree. The blowout also affects the herbs and shrubs of the area. Tengratila is very familiar for seasonal fruits. Various types of seasonal fruits grows here like jackfruit, litchi, mango, banana kamranga, tetul, pineapple tal etc. but when blowout occur they did not grow those fruits because environment was not good. According to respondent Abdul Majid birprotik said that he had 100 trees of jack fruit garden. But those gardens were damage by the blowout from where he got more money by selling jackfruit. Widow Hanufa Begum said that she had a tal garden. In that year a plenty of taal fallen in immature stage for the fire. She also said that she got 8-10 thousand taka per year. As result of blowout the loss its carbon dioxide sequestration benefits. For this reason in 5 hectors areas are taken for reforestation for 25 years and its amount is 825000 taka where 6600 taka/hec. During blowout different types of gasses were emitted like, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide mithen which mixed with the air and polluted it. It also damages the vegetation of the nearest village of the area. The vegetation of the 5 hector areas were totally burned which has more effect on the environment.

4.3.3. Impact on Health

Carbon monoxide is a colorless gas, which is extremely toxic for the human body. The high toxic result is the striking physiological affect, namely that carbon monoxide and hemoglobin blood has an attraction for each other. Hemoglobin attracts the carbon monoxide some 250 times more rapidly than the oxygen if the air contains carbon monoxide in a serious level than it will obviously harmful for the human beings. If the people inhale carbon monoxide airs they certainly suffer from serious diseases. They can suffer following deadly diseases-

1. Heart diseases

2. Eye and ear problem

3. Allergy problem

4. Anemia

5. Respiratory disease

6. Birth defects

7. Unclamping mental disease

8. Improper growth of the fetus and born immature child. [Townsed 1979].

When the gas rig exploded some area turned as pit. As a result it produced enormous amount of carbon monoxide. Here is presented a data the total people are suffering by inhaling polluted air.

Table 10: Comparison of health condition before and after the explosion

Diseases	Feature in 2004	People Suffered in 2006
Heart diseases	1	3
Anemia	2	8
Birth defect	1	4
Immature baby	0	3
Disable baby	0	3
Asthma	0	2

It is proved that various kinds of complex disease are arisen to the area later the blowout and the number of patients are increasing. Before blowout in 2004 there was only 1 person had heart disease after blowout 3 people suffering this disease.

4.3.3.1 Pregnancy difficulty

By the explosion four women have been miscarried in birth three children who were immature that time. In the 24 June at night all the villagers were fearful and ran away from their house. By running sufia Khatun got very much shocked and fall in complexity about her womb child. Four women were fall like this difficulty, butsufia Khatun is more injured than other. She has admitted in Sunamgonj Sadar Hospital and stayed there two month. The company paid her 2.50 lakh taka. The doctor had forbidden her not to bring forth child next five years. The injured abortioned women are Sufia khatun, Fultara Begum, Khudeza Begum.

Case Study 1

Name: Sufia Khatun [25]

Profession: Housewife

Out of three throes of labor pair women Sufia is one of them who has lost her baby. Her problem was very much complex, because she gave birth a dead baby with the help of a medical team. During the blowout she ran away with terrible and in the way of running she got a pain in her body. She was become pregnant about ten months during the incidents. That night she was admitted in Sunamgonj Sadar Hospital. The doctor informed that her baby which is in womb had died. So, there is a risky to deliver the baby. “I was senseless that time and next three days” Said Sufia “All of my relatives andfamilial member were hopeless about my life and they were always in crying.” All of the relatives and well-wishers prayed for her. After five days later the doctor was able to bring the dead baby from her womb. She informed “No person was desired about my life.” She has lost to birth baby for next five years and it is always lead to pain her. Her physical feature is not so much well now. She is unable to do any work. The company provided her 2.50lakh taka but she is not satisfied with this money. She wants to return in simple life. But the physical feature is not support her to come out. After two months stayed at hospital she back return home. For her present worst situation she blamed the NIKO.

4.3.4. Impact on drinking water

There is a great problem of pure drinking water. All the villagers are suffering from pure drinking water. The company has established three larger water tanks on the upper land. But the female are unable to bring water from the tank far distance away. Besides, the company has sunk 45 tubewell for supply drinking water. But out of 45 just only 15 are able to carry water from deep level, the rest of the tube well are useless and unable to bring water from the deep. Because, by the blowout the water level has gone more deeper than before, so the water layer into more 270 feet deep. They sank a tube well into more than 200 feet but there is no water. The people are terrible that near future they will die without water. Only three water supply tank are not sufficient to supply water among 1500 villagers.

Case Study 2

Name: Sheuli Sultana

Age: 20: Student

“Deficiency of pure drinking water we are facing so much complexity, all the villagers are bringing water for away” Sheuli added “All the previous tube well are useless now and unable to supply water at all.” She was talking alike with a bright eye to the researcher. According to her speech in theTengra there are total 45 ponds, some water pool, 40 tube well but all above are became useless after blowout. The company has to sink 40 tube well newly but most of them are not usable, not to able to carry water from the deep level of water layer. According to her statement in course of time all the people will be suffered a much more than other sector to pure drinking water. There are some little water body turned into gasified water mixed with effervesce. Soon proper steps should be taken for drinking water supply. The unconscious villagers are drinking dirty pool and gasified pond’s water, for that they are suffering some of the water born diseases. The company has established only three water tanks on the high land in village, but very often there is in water supply. And also we are unable to bring water from the far distance and high place which is like a hilly place. “Water is life but we are endangering to short supply of pure water” She added. They want to solve this crucial situation in as soon as possible.

4.4. Impacts on Agricultural Production and livelihoods

All the Sector of production have been affected by the explosion, especially in agricultural sector loses all of the seasonal crops which were reaps in the field. The villagers were departing from the houses and not be take care their agricultural crops. Including rice, Potato, Pineapple, wheat and also Mango, Jackfruits were damaged a lot of in quantity. The land has lost the natural fertility forever. The land has lost the natural fertility forever. The environmentalists have expressed the opinion that next 20 years the agricultural field will fail to grow better crops. All the farmers have lost their crops for not only one year but also next some years. But according to the former member of Tengratila Abdus Salam- there is no probability to loss the agricultural production for next future, because all the fields get more fertility by the blow out .His expression about the production is mention bellow details as a case study.

Case Study: 3

Name: Abdus Salam (55)

Former UP member.

He is quite exceptional than all other person of the village. According to his statement by the blazing the agricultural land does not loss the fertility moreover the lands given more fertility by the blazing. Because during the blowout one kind of mineral things came out from the mine and these materials make the land more fertile than ever before. He also argued that the agricultural production of this year is much more sufficient than previous year. For destruction of agricultural crops all farmers have given their compensation. “The compensation is not enough” about like these opinion he disagreed with and argued that the villagers became greedy by the explosion. According to his speech the blowout was just a natural disaster nothing else. All affected people have been paid their right compensation in due time. During his speaking he was bright in eyes and talked with very much confidently.

4.4.1. The decreasing rate of income

The Production has been decreased in dramatic rate after the explosion of the gas rig. The production capacity of the land decreased in a dramatic rate because of the mineral shortage in the soil. The previous section of this point discussed it elaborately. Now try to find out what are the economic changed take place regarding production. The land which was burnt by the fire was ownership by the local people. After the explosion as a result of burning some people lost their whole cultivable land. As a result they became landless. So, those people who have lost their land became direct victim of the blowout and they could not any thing for it. The followings are the features of the people lost their land and what the changed in their daily income.

Table 11: Income changing pattern

Per day income (Taka)	Families in 2004	Families in 2006	Change
0 – 100 100 – 200 200 – 300 300 – 400 400 – 500 500 +	1 4 8 7 4 1	8 5 7 3 1 1	7 1 1 4 3 3

The table is the evident that where there was 1 family in the income group – one in 2004, after the gas coupe rig gives it stands 8 families under this category. So, the number has increased quite dramatically but the income has been decreased. In the same way, in 2004 the income group 300 – 400 total family was 7 and in the year of 2006 the number fall to 3. The thing is that the solo number sustain after the explosion. So in this table it is proved that the number of families earned an average taka 200 – 400 per day from their land in 2004 and this money is quite enough for their maintaining life. This picture has been changed in the year 2006 and now they can earn an average taka 150 – 200, which is insufficient for their daily livelihood.

4.4.2. The Labor System

The labor system has been also disruppted. Before gas coupe rig gives many local people were worked in NIKO as a daily labor. But for the blazing most of them have lost their daily work. They have departed from the house. Some little farmers have diverted into pay labor. But before blowout daily payment was 70 – 90Takas per head, after the blowout it has increased in 120 – 150 taka. Besides, some local daily labor have been appointed in the company and working as a daily payment. Besides some of the local people are working in the company as a 2^nd class officers or monthly salary. According to the respondents the company has been arisen a new opportunity for them to create a work. Most of them were unemployed before the company established here who are working now. BazlurMamun working in the tube well project and food service center informed the researcher “The Company created a new opportunity to job for me and I am in keeping well now with my family.”

4.4.3. Impact on fisheries production

In the study area Tengratila there are near about 75 ponds and there are many larger fisheries farms. Some of the local villagers are working here and living by their earning money. Just for the blowout all the fishes from all the ponds and other wetlands died and rotted at all. All the ponds and pool mixed with gas and become gasified. The researcher have collected some documents and live photo which it is clear that infinity numbers of fishes are floating in the several ponds. The key informant of the research Mr. Azimuddin, a teacher of local Tengra High School informed the researcher that in the fisheries sector the villagers have lost much more than other sector and it is certainly present losing. “According to the government report by the blowout more than 6.51 core taka has been damaged of fisheries and water resources. For the primarily the company has been paid a compensation to the fisheries owner but the losers said it was not enough through their damaged.

4.5. Social Impact

In the world people are using fossil fuel from the last hundreds of years. They pollute the environment by using the fossil fuels by car, different types of vehicle, mills and factories. Some times the gas rig or oiling exploded and it may create a hazard for human and society. In Tengratila when the gas rig was exploded the Mithen(CH₄) gas was burnt it was fact a fossil fuel. The explosion has created an enormous numbers of difficulties for the human social as well as health condition. Fossil fuel is one of the major causes of air pollution. It is also adverse that in 1952 near about 4000 people were died only because of air pollution by fossil fuel burnt [Kuper 1981]. During the gas rig in Tengratila exploded the Mithen gas of the rig stored to burn in a gigantic mood and carbon dioxide gas was produced. Human body is affected much more by the carbon monoxide. Breathing is the main source by which air born pollutants comes contact with human and concentricity with in the body. Not only fossil, fuel all the trees, plants, flora and fauna were also burnt with fire. The total loses of gas are 300 core cubic and the losing money is more than 39 core taka.

4.5.1. Changed house pattern

Some of the houses were burnt with fire and the villagers are constructing their house in new formation. The present house patterns have been changed than the previous patterns. Some of the villagers are living in high land just like a hilly place from the far distance of gas well. Banacha begum [30] was taking preparation of cake ‘pita’ in her temporarily built house. The house was built with bamboo, straw and other rotten raw materials. They did not use tin in their house. Just there were three of encirclement and one roof of the each house. She addressed “We are in anxious of our future and waiting for the response of company”. All the nearer houses have been destroyed and dwellers have left from houses for ever. Some of the burning encirclement roof and tree without leaves are the only witness of gas explosion.

4.5.2. New dimension in social life

The blowout has been changed the life style and the social formation of affected people. The sufferings are being intensified now. The villagers are now more attentive to religious belief and practices. Very often they arranged a holy Quaran by rote and published that in loudly with speaker. Whole night continue the Quaran by rotting. Some of the conscious couple is not taking any child at present hour because they were afraid that the newborn baby may be immature or other problematic by gas explosion. Some respondents responded that for blowout various kinds of people and visitors are always gathered the village, so the villagers have been affected by them and also breaking the privacy of the village and the villagers. All the people are in danger and anxious about their future. They are in deteriorated situated to think again such a gas explosion again. Some of the agedness people and children informed in night they don’t get sweet sleep. Sometime the children are crying out at deep night for the fear of loud report. They are leading a totally unusual life, what they never expected ever before. So the social formation has been changed to a new dimension for the following measures.

1. More attentive to religion

2. No new born baby

3. Breaking privacy

4. All are endanger

5. No well sleep

6. Leading an unusual life.

4.5.3 Extensive plundering

During blowout none of the local people were in their own house. So, some people like devil came to the village and entered in the houses. They pillaged all the necessary things what they found near hand and went away such as cattle, cow, rice, paddy, utensils and other daily necessary things. These types of people were come from the nearer village for evil purposes. A respondent Bazlur Mamun noted “All the fruits as litchi and guava were taken by the plundered person. I am lucky that there were cattle in my house but probably they did not find it and not take” But some others respondents said they have lost their cows, cattle hens.

4.5.4. Destruction Caused by fire

Five were consumed by fire in the NIKO office. All of them are company employee and that time working inside the company. Out of five three persons have reappointed in previous work but one has not get his job return again. Out of five Hasan Mia has injured seriously and some parts of face, nose, belly, fingers of leg and hand were burned with fire. He has been sent to Dhaka P.G. hospital and stayed there near about more than two months. The company has expensed more than 15 lakh taka for his better treatment. He was relished from the hospital but not now out of danger. He is a person such as white color Man. According to the other people he has lost his job for false statement and did not reappointed the former job again. The most affected person due to the fire blowout are: Hasan Mia(35),Aziz(25), Ripon(25), Sattar(30), Tomal(28).

4.6. Impact on Educational Sector

4.6.1 Impact on Education

During the explosion all of the government and non-government primary and High school of five villages were closed and classes were suspended. Very much affected Tengratila high school, which is situated closer from gas-exploded area. The school building was sudden jerk again and again in the building there was taken big cracked some spots. The students left the school with afraid and took admission another school. By gas disaster the total number student of Tengra high school was declined from 250 to merely 60 students. One computer was damaged into the 1^st floor of the school building. The teacher of Tengra high school addressed like this “In the every previous years from our school more than one student obtained A^{+ in} SSC examination, but just this year we have failed to carry our continue fame”. The SSC result of this year is not so much better. The students could not get the time and opportunity to read. According to the government probe body for the postponed and irregularity of 200 students educational life and irregularity of social life educational life and the damaged of social life the company have to pay four core take to the school as compensation. But the company had given just only 310 lakh taka to Tengra high school as compensation and also provided a computer. The school office and class room was been shifted to another safety place for temporarily hours. The researcher was physically presented in the school during the gas was burning with a loud report and collected some exceptional Photo with his camera in where the school tube well was Jolted by gas and the water is coming the deep level automatically. As the school campus was the very nearer from the gas rigs, some of the boys and girls left the school with terrible and they never back return to the school. Rehena [16] daughter of Abdul Karim is alike them. She was an SSC examinee but did not back to school of afraid and had bad headache. “To fulfill the damaged and lacking of educational sector some years have to hard works of each teachers and local conscious guardian”. Said the schoolteacher Azimuddin.

Case Study 4

Mr. Azimuddin [50]

Teacher

Tengratila High school.

He is a teacher of high school and also the convener of new by formed committee “Tengra Dabi Adaye Parishad”. All of the injured and deteriorated people requested him to do something for them because all were hopeless at that time. Including 11 members with all the affected people he formed a convener committee. But some of the local people who are actually self – seeker threaten him to resign from the post. He expressed like this “I have got very much shocked and mental depression to build up a committee but I did not surrender to them and no body can depress me to depart from the noble work”. As a schoolteacher he has a fame and familiarity among the villagers and also local level. “When the injured villagers came to my door to seek for helping how could I deprive them?” Azim sir added, “I am on the way and in future try to continue my activities”. For the proper demand of compensation he went Dhaka more times. He has an easy accessibility and acceptability in the village. For the educational depreciation he demanded first of all the proper compensation. He arranged more and many procession, rally, meeting, and seminar for proper investigation and to pay the right man to right compensation. After rejected the main school building he has provided his house’s land to build up classrooms. There are seven class rooms in his land which was built for temporarily to serve the education. He was no demand about himself and he did not get single money as compensation, though coal, sand and stone were came out from the burning well to his roof of the house and yard. On his addressing he informed, “Various diseases, especially respiratory problems, have broken out the areas with the degradation of environment due to the blowout”. He also said “Two medical team had been provided treatment to the affected people and more than four hundreds affected people were received treatment”. The disaster was man made or natural incidentally occurred like this asking he thought “Internal conspiracy for plundering our national wealth is responsible for such disaster”. According to his speech it was obviously man made disaster. Leakage of burning gas through innumerable points within half a Kilometer area around the gas field continued and spread to more area. He was addressing in school teachers room while the gas had been blowing up with noise.

4.6.2. Physical damage of school building

The schoolyard and the border of the gas are related by one another. During the explosion the schoolyard was jolted again and again including the building. In very short time all necessary educational materials like books, benches, chair, tables, other necessary documents and papers were transferred to safety place radically. But a personal computer had been cracked. There had been cracked in the school building in several walls and roofs. As a classroom build seven rooms for temporarily in 400 yards distance. The land was provided by Mr. Azimuddin . During the gas rigs the school authority tried to continue the school activities including class but most of the students did not join the school and classroom. After near about three months later the school office had been shifted to previous main building. Now the students and all above the teachers are continue their educational activities in that cracked building which is very much dangerous and risky for all.

4.6.3. Students left out the school

Tengratila high school is situated far ten yards from the gas field. The school is located in “danger zone”. The 2^nd time blowout occurred in 24^th June of 2005 and it had been continued more than seven months. At 6^th January of 2006 the researcher went the gas disaster area for 2^nd time when the gas was burning from the leakage through innumerable points. In the school there were a few students founded in school yard. A teacher informed that the yard is situated so closer that the students are afraid to come to school. Some of the students have admitted other school. Both all guardians and students are not free from anxiety to come school. The present numbers of student is near about 100, before explosion, which were more than 200 in numbers. Azimuddin a teacher of the school pointed out “We are in students crisis and also anxious the future of our school, in previous years our results was excellent and were much more students, but now we are alike the river which has lost her navigability.”

Case Study 5

Rehena Khatun [16]

Student

Rehena Khatun was an SSC examinee from Tengratila high school. She was fully prepared for the examination. But 2^nd time gas explosion had postponed and decentralized all of her plane and exam preparation. She addressed “At 24 June midnight I was sleeping, suddenly heard a cautious whistle and gas well had burst with a loud report, I myself with others familial members were started to run away what had happened after that I can’t recognize”. The villagers in panic were seen running for shelter. She got a very much pain and seriously injured the legs and was abnormal at all. When she was expressing with the researcher she seemed to be unnatural. All day and night she merely was crying. She did not appear the examination. The family was treatment her more time, but she is unchanged. She never talks to other and if somebody calls her she don’t response. Always she stays at home. The entire familial member was anxious about her uncertain future. Nazrul, her brother said, “We were also injured and affected by the blowout, but did not get any compensation”. About Rehena he talked with the company authority more time, but the company did not response to him positively.

4.7. Adaptation with the changed Environment

4.7.1 The nature Adaptation

Adaptation is the fundamental and core concept of any studies. Such studies recognized adaptation a wider perspective can be understood as a set of process that increase a population changes a continuing to exist through successive generation in a given environment. In this research the researcher will consider an enhanced meaning of adaptation as a process through which ‘human population with all its collective and statistical social features and set of cultural ideas in terms of which this population try to understand and cope with themselves and their changing habitat’ (Barth, 1987: P-87).

Coping is the manner in which people act within existent resources and range of expectation of a situation to achieve various ends. In general, this involves no more then ‘managing resources’ but usually means how it is done in unusual, abnormal and adverse situation. The objective of coping strategies is survival in the face of adverse event. While, this is indeed common, it makes other important purposes. This may be examining using Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs (Maslow 1970). Such a hierarchy involves identifying distinct levels of needs with each level incorporated and depending on the satisfaction of needs. The exploded people are living with very much miserable situation. There is shortage of pure drinking water; they have to bring drinking water from far away. Sometimes their houses were suddenly burnt by cigarette light. They are being struggle with the changing culture and changing environment to survive. Every spheres of life they are facing complexity and crucial situation. They are living in making the house, which is made temporarily.

4.7.2 Disaster Management

Disaster Management is a practical knowledge including proper observation and analyses about disaster prevention, disaster preparation and fast response to disaster and recovering activities. There are several three stays about disaster management:

a) Disaster Protection

b) Disaster Preparation

c) Disaster Mitigation

In Tengratila there was not of steps to set to protect the disaster. For that the damaged were much more. The company did not aware the villagers about probable disaster. There was no preparation about disaster management. Some of the respondents informed that if the company had taken any steps to prevention of disaster, their losses and detriment were less what have occurred. At present the villagers are in endanger and unsafely.

4.8. Compensation and Economic Features

4.8.1. Economics features

In cultural case it has been seen that subsistence economic activities and environmental activities act together and develop the cultural core [Steward, 1995; P-37].Here the culture is heavily influenced by it and in fact here culture acts as a mediator between man and environment. The economic life of the research people have changed in a dramatic way that means their income dropped in radically. These change also been indicate that the people who where involved in subsistence economy are facing miserable situation. In the research the community concept of ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ were not much strong. The society was some how equal. A few numbers of village people were able to sustain in this crucial period, a lots of village people was not able to sustain the critical period. So they were depended on the company for the money as compensation or lend money from the village well off people. In the sustainable group there is schoolteacher, local businessman, and employee in outside or the vast landowners.

It has been seen that in all the people suffered more or less. They have lost their land, houses and moreover they suffered with economic difficulty. After the explosion the village people started to polarize between rich and poor. Though they think that they are belonging in the same tent but the fact is not alike that. The person who earns 500 taka daily is never thinking alike a man who earns less than 150 taka per day. When a person earns over taka 500 per day he practices power over other. Here it is also very visible that people who has no right to access the resources and they cannot take influence over decision-making process. It is clear that the people who able to earn more money they have to access into the more resources just for result they can make decision in favor them. The Society is going under exploitation and started to divide into several segment. One part is those whose income is much more they exercise to power over other. On the other hand there is no other part whose income is enough and they able to establish themselves as a prominent member in decision-making. This polarized system is continuing in the gas-exploded area after the gas disaster.

After the blazing some days later the local people started to return their houses, all their houses were burnt and the plants were burnt and the plants were burn to ashes near the gas well. They had to reconstruct all these. They were very much helpless and frustration to think about their neo making houses. They depended on their relatives. Their social status has been come under the threat by this economic change. Economic life of the people is related with their environment and living culture. People of the area are directly related with the environment. When the environment is slightly intercepted the whole society came under a lick up because the subsistence activities of the villagers were interrupted. Environmental change can be affected almost all the component of cutler.

4.8.2. Compensation to the affected people

By the blowout how damaged have been occurred in the village, there is ambiguity about it. The losses can be into two categorized.

a) Temporary losses.

b) Permanent losses.

a) Temporary losses:

In temporary losses there has been damaged of trees and plants, damaged of crops, harassment of villagers, havoc of materialistic and health hazard.

b) Permanent losses:

In this sector there are economical and environmental ruination. “During the 7^th January in first blowout the total gas losses near about 19 B.C.F. which cost was more than 100 core taka. During that time a investigate committee has formed by the government, that committee has submitted their report and said that physically injured 400 people have to pay 16 core, 200 students educational losing and Social life affected for have to pay 4 core, For water resource damaging have to pay 6.51 core; for plants, trees and forest damaged have to pay 2 core, degradation for soil 1.25 core, ecological impact have to pay 1.50 core taka. All above total compensation determined was 35 core 44 lakh and 50 thousands 78 Taka.” [The daily Ittafaque – 10 July. 2005]

During 2^nd time blowout it was damaged 40/45 thousand cubic gases every day. Besides these, there were main detriment near about 500 to 600 trees burnt, around 1.5 k.M area threw sand, coal, oil to and burnt all green grass and crops, around 2 km area 109 pool and 82 tube well were useless by the water effervescing.

NIKO has been distributed 5000 taka per family among 616 families. About 165 serious decremented families have been paid 2 core 79 lakh and 776 taka. Among 148 businesses man distributed 6.08 lakh taka. According to the respondents the total compensation what have been distributed was not so much enough through the destruction .More over the company has collected 20 million us dollars as a insurance fund. According to the respondents there was some sorts of lacking to determine right compensation which were

a) The Problem of identification clearly.

b) Government and bureaucratic complexity.

c) The Neglecting of government.

d) The carelessness of Nike.

e) Absence of story public support.

f) Legislative problem.

4.8.3. Five families in vagabond tent

Five families did not able to return their own house yet now [26March 06] because the company did not permit to back. All the families are paying 10000 thousands taka per month. The shelter less family is

a) Imran [20] Student

b) Aabdur Latife [37] employee

c) Habibur Rahman [35] Farmer

d) Hobirur [37] Unemploye

e) Kayece Rahman [40] Teacher

NIKO declared that until these five families back to their own house the company will be continue 10000 thousands each family per month.

4.8.4. Neo-Four Groups

Through the compensation money among the villagers there have been arisen four groups of people. Out of four two are in strong opposition to each other. Each groups blamed to one other for any activities of village. Even one time there had been taken like a little quarrel between these two groups. These are following-

a) Convener group

b) Anti -Convener group

c) Exploited group

d) Middle Self -Seekers group.

a) Convener group:

Particularly this group belongs to the convener of “Tengratila Dabee Adaie Parishad” a teacher of Tengra High School. Some of the submissive villagers are in this group. Sometimes the convener tried to organize the effected people to achieve their compensation. Others villagers and affected people always maintain a relation with him. He has a accessibility and acceptability in the local area. Every body respects him. Sometime he has insulted by the aggressive people to take part of affected people. He is working without his own interest and benefit. He is self-reliance.

b) Anti-convener group:

Some of the local political persons and their followers are belong in this group. They want to take the leadership from convener. The members of this group were created pressure to Azim master to resin from the post. Just they want to lead the villager without Azim master. .

c) Exploited group:

All the affected people are belonging in the group. They are unorganized and unconscious. Sometimes they go to the convener and sometimes to another group. Actually they don’t have any political biasness. Their demand is to get the compensation as soon as possible in right way.

d) Middle self -seeker group:

The members of the group are worked through their own interest. A few numbers of the local powerful people are involved in the group. They have high linkage with NIKO officers, and local level government officers. So they have a good access to any office. The affected people go to them for their losing asset and the self – seeker demand money to them to help them. Sometimes the losers are bound to pay them some money. According to the respondents in this group there is a schoolteacher of neighboring village.

4.9. Impact study by different organization

4.9.1. Impact study by Sylhet Disaster Forum (SDF)

Sylhet Disaster Forum is Non-government organization. They arrange a meeting with the elite person of the society, teacher of the university, and other organization. They give their opinion in the meeting. From those meeting they try to find out the cause of blow out and give a provable solution that what should we do.

Apparent cause of blow out:

Absences of skill ness of NIKO.
Long six month to drill the relief well.
Failure to predict and prepare for gas pockets in the loose sand.
Incorrect management of NIKO.
International conspiracy.
Too close to the first blowout well.
Failure to handle lost circulation.
Failure to stop blowout-by-blowout presenter.
As a result of too dig the earth the soil is looser.
Absence of regular monitoring by NIKO.

What should be done permanently?

To give compensation to the affected people.
Prevent the environmental hazards.
Supply the drinking water.
To give proper treatment for health hazard.
To manage the proper living place for the affected people.
To investigate the loss of environmental elements.
Immediately cancel the Join Venture Agreement (JVA) for Chhatak.
Compel NIKO to fix the Tengratila well and fix the damaged reservoir.
Bring responsible persons to justice.

4.9.2. EIA clearance by the Department of Environment (DoE)

For development of Chhatak gas field NIKO submitted a Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the Department of Environment (DoE). In those report according to Environmental Management Plan (EMP) NIKO agree to maintain the water quality management, occupational health and safety, waste (hazardous and non hazardous) management, noise and vibration management, disaster management and emergency response, risk management, environmental aesthetics, energy conservation, compensatory measure, socio-economic measures etc. For these activities they confirm to take necessary steps for implement the in the project. Principle conditions that are mentioned in the EIA report are following:

i. The activity under Chhatak gas field development project shall not containment of any materials that would affect health or will have damaging impact on the environment or natural sources.

ii. Proper and adequate on-site preparatory measure and safety measures shall be ensured so that no habitat of any flora and fauna would be demolished or destructed.

iii. All the required mitigation measures suggested in the EIA report along with the emergency response plan are to be strictly implemented and kept operative on a continuous basis.

iv. Full and adequate utilization of the techniques for mitigation of pollution and environmental damage as well as that for treatment of waste shall be ensured.

v. All parameters of effluent, gaseous emissions, noise, solid waste, hazardous waste, etc. shall be within the limits of the Environment Conservation Rules (ECR) 1997. in case of non coverage of ECR 1997 the world banks Environment, Health, Safety guideline shall be adhered to.

vi. Chhatak gas field development project authority shall involve local people reside at least 1 km radius of the project train them up to address fire, blowout or other emergencies that may arise due to the activity of the drilling and subsequent operations of the project.

vii. Rehabilitation of human settlement or compensation for any sort of activity, which will incur damage, or loss of public or private property or any natural resources shall be addressed as per government of Bangladesh rules and regulations.

viii. A change study for all the identifiable resources shall be performed by Chhatak gas field development project authority, in case of any incident of blowout or damage, with the help of image data to be taken immediate before and immediate after incident. (DoE Report 2005).

4.9.3. The legal Dispute: BELA’S experience

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) is a non-NGO, which investigated the effected areas. They try to help the effected people by legal dispute. They complained in a write petition at the high court that the NIKO violated the clauses on the environmental articulated in the Bangladesh petroleum act, 1974 and Bangladesh environmental Protection law, 1975.It also complained that though NIKO submitted an EIA report, but did not maintain the condition that mentioned in the report which certified by the Department of Environment (DoE).

4.9.4. Impact study by Forest Department (FD)

Sylhet forest division made a survey to measure the impact of the blowout on the forest area of Tengratila. Basically Tengratila is rich in homestead forest. There are so many fuel wood trees, seasonal fruit trees, herbs; shrubs etc. are found in Tengratila. The survey was made in every affected respondent. The Forester ofDawarabazar Thaana said that ‘when they went to survey the damage of June 23, 2005. They found innumerable bush, herbs, shrubs, creepers, orchids, ferns, liken and moss burnt away. They also found many insect, crabs, and other tiny craters dead. In the denser forest the leaves and the branches of trees were also found burnt. 500-600 burnt for the fire of blowout. This homestead forest is an ideal patch for the different wildlife. Many species of birds are found here most of which lay their eggs in this forest. The birds lay eggs at the onset of monsoon. The reduction of trees due to the fire may slowdown the reproduction of the birds. Birds were frequently found in the forest but now they are not so frequent.

Chapter-5

Recommendation and Conclusion

5.1. Recommendation

The respondents, Organization, scientist, expressed some of the following statement as a recommendation.

a) Try to find out the exact and perfect facts about blowout and it have to be formed with highly experts.

b) The investigate report have to publish to mass people.

c) Proper legislative steps have to take against company or the culprits

d) Soon try to ensure the pure drinking water supply

e) Soon have to solve the health hazard complexity

f) To fulfill the tress and plants shortage has to take a program of social forestation.

g) The injured and depreciated people who were deprived from their compensation have to pay soon.

h) The families are staying outside of their own house have to bring them immediately

i) The company has to ensure all the villagers security.

j) Proper disaster management has to set up in the company and surrounding villages.

5.2. Conclusion

After the gas explosion five villagers have departed from their house, property, cattle and other necessary living things. They have taken shelter in their relative’s house. Five villages affected by the blowout but the village of Tengratila has affected much more than others. In Tengratila village, some houses have rejected forever, all big and little trees have destroyed, the fishes have died, agricultural product has damaged. The villagers have changed their life structure. Some of them are making new house with raw materials for temporarily. They are living with various natural, artificial problems. Environment is co-related with their emotions, life struggle, and livelihood and with existence. It is a little effort to analysis the adaptive strategy of human lives and livings. Respiratory diseases injure in hand and leg, skin diseases, having irritation in skin, scabies called fever, eye irritation, indigestion, and soon are seriously occurs in the villages. Most of them are children, agedness and female.Fatama village of shantipur was brining water from red-signed tube well. Sheuli expressed that we are bound to drink and use the red-signed tube well water. Green signed tube well’s water is gasified and the test of water has changed. All the respondents are doesn’t know what is going to be happened their destiny. NIKO has distributed more than 5.59 core taka as compensation among the injured people for two times blazing.

The five families yet not back their own houses because their houses are in situated ‘danger zone’ and per month each family are paying 10,000 hundreds taka from NIKO as a compensation. The research has been completed. According to the respondents two times blowout there is a probability of same other outsider conspiracy and their selves’ interest. The compensation that distributed among the injured was not enough. Some injured people are depend the compensation by interfere of local self -seekers group. They defined the blowout as a man made disaster nothing else. In 24 June 06 deep nights all the villagers woke up by the great sound and careful whistle. Anxiety male, female and children started to run away here and there. Farida parven a respondent of Azabpar village broken her hand,Amina injured in leg, Rehena got pain in leg, like this Monika, Sherin, Halima, Mafiya, Tazuddin and some others were seriously injured. Each and Every body, the villagers of Tengratila, Azabpur, Khoieajure, Shantipur and Greshnagar are a several fearful patients.

This paper has prepared not only for academic Purposes but also from the liability of being attractiveness. The researcher has tried to make an effective and purposive research as can as possible injuring the problem barriers.

Admission

Result

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Tengratila Gas Explosion: It’s Impact on Environment and livelihood

Introduction

Chapter-2

Chapter-3

Chapter-4

Chapter-5