Mumbai: The "cease work" agitation of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) employees began at offshore platforms in Mumbai region early August 13 even as the management maintained that there was no impact on the work so far.

"We have started our non-co-operation agitation and would bring down the production to 25 per cent, though not close it down completely," an agitating ONGC employee owing allegiance to Association of Scientific and Technical Officers (ASTO) said.

The essential services would be maintained but the valve would not operate to the full capacity, he said, adding the unions have not objected to the ferrying of employees in helicopters to the offshore platforms.

The employees are demanding a higher compensation for the next of kin of those killed in the chopper crash two days ago and removal of ONGC's chairman and managing director Subir Raha.

Meanwhile, an ONGC spokesperson said the employees are expected not to go ahead with the agitation and maintain the level of production in view of the Mumbai High Court order on August 12, which restrains them from going on strike.

The work on offshore platform is going on normally, she said.

The ASTO, however, maintained that there are on "tool down agitation" and not on strike.

Raha had on August 12 said the strike by the employees would be "illegal" if they went ahead with their threat to disrupt offshore activities of the company.

PTI