National Green Tribunal submits interim report on Baghjan

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: The Committee of Experts headed by Justice BP Katakey which was constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Baghjan BGR5 oil well blowout submitted its interim report to NGT on October 31, 2020.

The NGT, in its report, recommended that direction may be issued to the Pollution Control Board, Assam to take appropriate legal action against Oil India Limited (OIL) and its officials for violation of mandatory Environmental Laws besides revising the categories of compensation to the affected families. Though the hearing of the case was fixed on November 3, the NGT has deferred the hearing till December 15, without transacting any business, informed BananiKakkar, the petitioner.

The Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia, one of the members of Committee of Experts after re-surveying the affected families recommended an additional 104 families be inducted into category (i) to the earlier list of 57 families besides recommending revision into 2 categories for disbursement of final compensation issues.

Thus the Tinsukia DC recommended 173 families under category (i) who are to receive Rs 25 lakh and 439 families under category (ii) that would receive Rs 20 lakh each.

The Committee, while accepting the recommendation of Tinsukia DC, mentioned that the NGT may consider passing necessary order for payment of interim compensation as suggested.

Also Watch: Justice for Imdad: Protests in Mancachar

Also Read:   Five months of Baghjan blaze, longest burning oil well in India