NGT appoints OIL to investigate damage of Baghjan blowout

Guwahati: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing the Baghjan blowout and fire case near Dibru Saikhowa National Park at Tinsukia district of Assam last year have called for three new committees to investigate the cause of the incident and restore the ecological habitat.

Curiously, Oil India Limited (OIL), which was considered liable for the incident at Baghjan by the Tribunal, has also been included in one of three committees by the Tribunal that would assess the damage and work on the restoration of ecologically sensitive habitats affected by the blowout followed by a fire.

According to an order of the Principal Bench of NGT headed by Justice Adarsh Goel on Friday, further studies are required for the assessment of damage to the environment and restoration measures by an inter-disciplinary committee. The order notes that the issues related to compensation “stands sorted out substantially”. “The remaining aspects of remedying the causes leading to the incident and statutory compliance will require further consideration by the statutory and departmental authorities in the first instance for which propose joint committees,” the order stated.