SOPs being issued to avoid repeat of Baghjan-like accidents: Petroleum Minister Pradhan

New Delhi: Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan told the Parliament that Oil India Limited has taken all necessary steps to minimize the impact on the environment. Various measures are underway to contain any further damage to crops and the ecology in the vicinity of the affected areas. The was replying to a query by West Bengal MP Dinesh Trivedi on Tinsukia's Baghjan blowout.

''The district administration has engaged The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) for ensuring ambient air quality, CSIR North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) has been engaged for seismological study and IIT Guwahati has been engaged for heat impact through thermal imaging. To prevent such fateful accidents in the future, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are also being issued by the ministry after making required improvements, if required,'' added Pradhan.

Pradhan further stated that over 2,000 families have been identified so far for compensation till September 8 in Doomdooma and Tinsukia Circle. The OIL has deposited an amount of Rs. 10,93,50,500/- along with a one-time compensation of Rs. 30,000 provided by the district administration for each affected family to over 3,000 families.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed OIL to pay an interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakhs (whose houses have been completely gutted by fire), Rs. 10 lakhs to those whose houses have been severely damaged) and Rs. 2.5 Lakhs to those whose houses have been moderately /partially damaged or whose standing crops and horticulture have been partially damaged.

Pradhan also mentioned that the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas is regularly monitoring and reviewing several safety measures in the oil & gas sector, including OIL.

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