The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Oil India Limited (OIL), and two corresponding state entities. The main issue is to provide explanations about the environmental clearances given for the seven proposed drilling sites in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
NGT’s Concern on Environmental Clearances
The NGT responded to the petitioners’ contention that OIL did not conduct a biodiversity assessment study for the new exploratory drilling project consisting of seven wells. Specifically, the company did not hold a public hearing as required by the 2006 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification.
OIL’s Response and ERD Technology
OIL countered the allegation, stating that its exploratory drilling project occurred “under,” not “within” the 765 sq km Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. They based this claim on the Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) technique, which allows drilling wells up to around 4 km from an existing well plinth without entering the protected area. OIL had received permission for the seven wells in 2016 using ERD technology, which drills a well horizontally at least twice its vertical depth and is largely used to tap hydrocarbon targets distant from the surface or areas otherwise difficult to reach.
The Incident at Baghjan Oil Field
The NGT notice comes in the wake of a gas leak at OIL’s Baghjan oil field, located near the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. The disaster at Baghjan critically affected the surrounding ecology and displaced nearly 11,000 people from their homes.
Assam’s Rich Biodiversity
Located in one of the world’s richest biodiversity zones, Assam features tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, riverine grasslands, bamboo orchards, and various wetland ecosystems. It is home to wildlife sanctuaries, most notably the Kaziranga National Park and the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Additionally, there are three other national parks in Assam – Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Nameri National Park, and the Orang National Park.
Economic Importance
Assam has bountiful mineral resources, including coal, petroleum, limestone, and natural gas. The state is also India’s largest producer of crude oil. OIL, under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas’s control, is the second-biggest hydrocarbon exploration and production Indian public sector company with its operational headquarters in Duliajan, Assam.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
Located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river in Assam, Dibru-Saikhowa is a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve. The park includes semi-evergreen forests, deciduous forests, littoral and swamp forests, and patches of wet evergreen forests, making it the largest swamp forest in north-eastern India. Internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA), the park is known for rare white-winged wood ducks and feral horses. Significant mammal populations include Tigers, Elephants, Leopards, Jungle Cats, Bears, Small Indian Civets, Squirrels, Gangetic Dolphins, Hoolock Gibbons, and more.
Last Modified: February 8, 2024