The Pollution Control Board of Assam has directed Oil India Limited to “close down” all production and drilling operations within the Baghjan oil field area in Upper Assam where a blowout and subsequent fire have devastated life, livelihood and ecology.
It has also directed it to take all steps to cap the fire that has been raging since June 9.
The PCBA in its two-page communique to Oil India on Friday has accused the company, which operates the gas well that is on fire since June 9, of “nonchalantly violating the provision of law in force, causing pollution to the environment”.
The closure notice has made some stinging observations against Oil India, which has been accused of “destroying” the aquatic life of nearby Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and the Maguri-Motapung wetland in the “name of exploring oil without any mitigation measures”, and not being equipped with proper safety and precautionary measures “for which often major accidents occur at the drilling sites/production installations”.
The PCBA has also observed that the May 27 blowout and subsequent fire was due to “negligence and carelessness” of Oil India authorities towards the safety of people’s lives and property in neighbouring areas as well as protection of the environment.
