HYDERABAD, Aug 18: The Awami Action Committee for Rights of People has said the Tando Alam OGDC oil field is not carrying out welfare work in the area although it had started production in 1981-82.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Thursday, committee representatives Ghulam Hyder Khoso, Ali Nawab Khoso, Mukesh Kumar and Dr Hyder said the OGDC was recovering 17,000 to 18,000 barrels of oil per day from the oil field but it was not spending money on welfare of people of the area as stipulated under the agreement.

They further said that instead of giving employment to local people, the company had introduced a contract system. They demanded that the contract system should be abolished and people of the area should be recruited directly by the company.

They alleged that the company was obliging only some influential people of the area.

They demanded that the agreement signed between the company and the government should be made public.

They said the company should also disclose the amount earmarked for the welfare of people during the last 23 years and an inquiry should be conducted into the alleged misappropriation of the amount.

They further demanded the company should set up an oil refinery in the area and use its own oil tankers for transportation of oil which would generate job opportunities for local people.