National Green Tribunal defers Rs 25 crore fine by Oil India Limited

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TINSUKIA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel turned down Oil India Limited's (OIL) plea on Thursday to recall the earlier order to put aside a deposit of Rs 25 crore towards remediation of damage done to the environment and public health following Baghjan oil well blowout. It observed that the liability for compensation by OIL was 'absolute' and not dependent on any finding of fault and therefore refused to recall its previous order constituting the expert committee. On the specific undertaking given by OIL that it has set aside Rs 130 crore and will promptly make available whatever amount for discharge of its liability, the NGT deferred its previous direction for deposit of its Rs 25 crore till the expert committee worked out actual amount of compensation payable by OIL. The expert committee is expected to submit its report by July 29 when the matter would be further heard.

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