Local lawmaker Kolim Uddin Milon handed over the money in presence of the deputy of Sunamganj and officials of Canadian company NiKo, which is exploring gas at Tengratila.

The money was given as 'token compensation' for one month for the fire at the gas field, a Niko official said.

In Dhaka, Tariqul Islam came down heavily on Niko for giving only Tk 5,000 per family, and asked it to enhance the compensation and rehabilitate the people displaced due to the inferno at the gas field.

At a meeting with Niko officials at his Secretairat office yesterday, the minister expressed grave concern at the massive economic and environmental losses due to the fire caused by the January 8 blast in a drilling well.

Niko had declared a 'red alert within a one-square-kilometre area around the gas field and asked villagers to leave their homes for safer places in the wake of fire. If the red alert continues, the company will give further compensation, a Niko official said.

Locals have demanded compensation for people within a three- square-kilometre area as they also had to leave their houses, and Niko authorities are now considering the matter, Kolim Uddin said.

Meanwhile, Niko on Sunday started preliminary work for drilling a relief well at a site about 300 feet away from the exploded well.

Sources said Niko's move to bring a huge rig now lying in Chittagong has failed and it is looking for other options.

In the capital, Tariqul Islam demanded adequate compensation for the damages at Tengratila when two Niko officials met him at his office.

The minister blasted the Niko officials for not bringing with them the Canadian experts now in Bangladesh. Niko's local President Kashem Sharif and Advisor Gazi Nuruzzaman Babul met him.

State Minister for Environment Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, Director General (DG) of the Department of Environment Khan M Ibrahim and high officials were present at the meeting.

About the compensation of Tk 5, 000 a family, meeting sources quoted Tariqul Islam as saying, " It seems you (Niko) are giving alms. You should enhance the amount immediately."

Turning to the losses, the minister said the fire seriously affected a large number of people in Tengratila and its adjoining areas, and damaged the environment, crops, fishes and trees.

A committee headed by DG Ibrahim has already visited the spot and is now preparing a preliminary report on the losses, he said at the meeting.

Niko officials said the company has already taken steps to extinguish the blaze and repair the damaged drilling well. They also assured assistance in rehabilitating the affected people.

The officials claimed that accidents may occur in a gas field any time, but denied any negligence on the part of Niko at Tenratila.

Tariqul blamed Niko for not taking adequate safety measures to prepare for an explosion and pointed out that an extra rig is yet to reach the spot for 'directional drilling' to put off the blaze.

Sources at the environment ministry said the committee formed to assess the environmental impact and losses is likely to submit its report within the next couple of days. The team comprises experts and officials of the ministry.