Guwahati, Dec. 2: The protest against the Centre’s nod to Oil India Limited (OIL) for conducting a seismic survey on the Brahmaputra riverbed has taken a serious turn, with activists of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) threatening self-immolation.

The multi-disciplinary advisory group which met in New Delhi on October 3 decided to give the go-ahead to Oil India Limited to start their seismic survey work on the Brahmaputra riverbed in their allocated block. Besides, the advisory group also asked OIL to provide information about the progress of the survey at timely intervals.

“The advisory group was constituted by the ministry of environment and forests to study the impact assessment of seismic survey on the Brahmaputra riverbed. It has no business to take a decision on seismic survey,” Akhil Gogoi, the secretary of KMSS told a media conference here today.

He said his organisation would not allow OIL to conduct the survey and that six of its members were ready to immolate themselves.

Gogoi said the move by the group was difficult to comprehend as the survey of dolphin habitats and acoustic studies are yet to be completed.

He said the seismic survey on the Brahmaputra would cause immense damage to the ecosystem of the river and the fish habitat.