OIL slapped with Rs 25 crore fine by NGT for failure to stop Baghjan fire

Guwahati: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an interim fine of Rs 25 crore on Oil India Limited for its failure to stop the fire in Assam''s Baghjan oil well that has caused extensive damage to the environment and has displaced several hundred families living in that area.

"In view of the prima facie case made out against Oil India Ltd on the extent of damage caused to the environment and biodiversity, damage to both human and wildlife, public health and, having regard to the financial worth of the Company and the extent of damage, we direct the OIL to deposit an initial amount of 25 crore with Tinsukia District Magistrate," the bench said in its order passed on Wednesday.

The order came on a plea filed by activist Bonani Kakkar and others alleging failure of the authorities in preventing the blowout of Baghjan oil well.  Meanwhile, the NGT has also set up Committee of Experts, headed by former Gauhati High Court Justice B.P. Katakey, to further probe the issue.

It may be recalled that Well number 5 at Baghjan in Tinsukia started spewing gas on May 27 and on June 9 a massive fire broke out, and two of OIL India's firemen we killed near the site of the fire.

In the aftermath of the blaze, a 3-member team of experts from a Singapoream firm, Alert, has been called in, and efforts are still on to douse the fire.

The Baghjan oil field has a total of 22 producing wells -- 18 crude and four gas, and the oil field has been in operation since 2003.

Following the accident, the PCBA (Pollution Control Board of Assam) sent a show cause notice to the energy major on June 10 seeking details of its operations in Baghjan in the last 15 years, within one week, which was later revoked.

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