Gauhati HC stays nod for Oil India work at Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam
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“We will not start ERD operations before carrying out biodiversity impact assessment study,” says firm
The Gauhati High Court has stayed the environmental clearance given to Oil India Limited (OIL) for extended-reach drilling (ERD) operations at seven areas beneath the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in japanese Assam.
Hearing a public curiosity litigation on December 7, a Bench comprising appearing Chief Justice N. Kotishwar Singh and Justice Manish Choudhury issued the keep order on the May 11 environmental clearance that OIL had acquired.
The keep was in view of the non-compliance of a September 7, 2017, order of the Supreme Court in an earlier case that required the exploration main to conduct biodiversity affect evaluation research at the ecologically fragile nationwide park protecting 350 sq km.
The prime courtroom had in 2017 requested OIL to arrange and submit a biodiversity affect research to the Assam State Biodiversity Board.
In an affidavit submitted to the High Court on November 17, the Assam Forest Department mentioned ₹22 lakh was given to OIL for conducting the research but it surely was but to start work on it.
An OIL spokesperson mentioned the exploration main won’t take up any drilling until the Supreme Court order is complied with.
“As per our commitment made to the apex court, we will not start our ERD operations before carrying out the biodiversity impact assessment study. We have not carried out any operations of the ERD project. We have already begun the ground work for carrying out the said study,” he mentioned from OIL’s headquarters Duliajan in japanese Assam’s Dibrugarh district.
“ERD does not involve drilling in the national park. This is a technology that will enable us to explore crude or gas deep down horizontally after drilling vertically from a safe distance beyond the protected area,” he added.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is designated as a biosphere reserve. It homes many endangered species and is wealthy in fish range. Created to assist preserve the habitat of the uncommon white-winged wooden duck, the park is residence to the water buffalo, black-breasted parrot invoice, tiger and capped langur.
A significant attraction at the park is a sizeable inhabitants of feral horses which have descended from skilled horses deserted by the Allied forces throughout World War II.
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