Pollution Control Board of Assam directs OIL to close down drilling operations in Baghjan

Guwahati: In the midst of the ongoing Baghjan fire tragedy in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district, the Pollution Control Board Assam has directed Oil India Limited (OIL) to close down production and drilling operations of all installations in the oil field.

In a letter addressed to the Resident Chief Executive, Oil India Limited (OIL), the pollution control body alleged that OIL has been operating Baghjan oil field installation "without obtaining prior consent to establish/consent to operate from Pollution Control Board Assam, which is a serious violation of the provisions of the Water Act, 1974, Air Act, 1981 as well as Environment Protection Act, 1986.

"We had earlier [on June 10] issued a show-cause notice to OIL. They had asked us for an extension of time to reply. But we issued the closure notice after one week," said Suryanarayana, adding that the notice applies to all wells under the Baghjan oilfield", Y Suryanarayana, the chairman of the Pollution Control Board Assam (PCBA) has been quoted as saying by The Indian Express. 

He added that the withdrawal of the notice will depend on OIL's response "and if they follow the rules and regulations prescribed by the government, PCBA doesn't have any problem."

"It is mandatory to obtain prior permission/clearance from MoEF&CC as well as State PCB for production, drilling, pumping of crude oil and laying pipeline activities as per EIA notification, 2006 and various provisions under the Section 25/26 of the Water (Prevention of Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 21 of the Air (Prevention of Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Authorization under the Hazardous & other waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 as amended up to date" the notice further added.

It may be mentioned here that the Baghjan oilfield in Tinsukia has 21 functioning wells. Four of these, including the one where the mishap occurred, are gas wells and the rest are oil wells. out of which four are gas wells (including the one that reported the blowout) and 17 are oil wells. As per Hazarika, the wells are extremely high yielding reservoirs.

On May 21, the well no. 5 of the Baghjan oil field reported a blowout and two weeks later, on June 9, there was an explosion followed by a massive fire at the site. The fire led to the deaths of two firefighters and has displaced 11,000 locals who have been forced to take shelter in relief camps set up by the Government.

Protests and road blockades have become a norm in the area, which is in the vicinity of the Dibru-Sikhowa National Park. OIL, in a statement released earlier today, said that operations were disrupted in 30 Oil wells and 5 gas wells. Cumulative production loss since May 27 due to bandhs and blockades has been reported to be 7627 MT Crude oil and 9.87 MMSCM of natural gas.

Meanwhile, the Government has said that the operations at the well were "being executed as per schedule" and the blowout at the site is proposed to be capped on July 7.

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