Justice Katakey panel did not get support from organizations & individuals: NGT

BAGHJAN BLOWOUT

PART II

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recorded its appreciation for the work executed by the eight-member committee headed by Justice BP Katakey with respect to Baghjan oil well-blowout episode. However, the fact remains that even after seven months of proceedings he all along sailed into rough weather with several organisations and individuals who, exhibiting an apathetic attitude were not supportive during the Baghjan crisis as reflected in his submission before the NGT.

The Justice BP Katakey panel was constituted almost a month after the blowout on May 27, 2020. It appeared from the report that the Justice Katakey committee from time to time had issued several e-mails seeking information from OIL and other agencies including various committees constituted by a number of authorities and the Government of Assam. But, these agencies did not furnish their reports to the committee.

The defaulters include the Director General of Mines Safety, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Oil Industry Safety Directorate, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, MIS ERM (India) Pvt. Ltd, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat and Soil Compaction Study, three members of the 'High Level Committee' constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, the multi-member 'Expert Committee' (headed by Additional P.C.C.F. M. K. Yadava), which constituted by the Government of Assam vide Notification dated June 2, 2020, the single-member committee (headed by M. K. Yadava) constituted by the Government of Assam vide Notification dated June 12, 2020, the committee (headed by Additional Chief Secretary, Guwahati Development Department, Maninder Singh) constituted by the Government of Assam, and even several experts in multi-disciplinary team constituted by the committee remained indifferent.

Of these panels, M.K. Yadava — who headed two committees — got into the job immediately after the blowout by engaging several field workers in and around the Maguri-Motapung Wetland. But, these committees also refrained from submitting their reports to the Government of Assam for the reasons best known to Yadava. This is notwithstanding the fact that the field workers had submitted their reports to him in due time, informed the field workers. It is to be mentioned that officials of the Assam Government including Additional Chief Secretary Maninder Singh have created a precedent by not submitting their reports to the NGT. Of course, the other Central government organizations followed suit in this regard.

According to local environmentalists, Justice Katakey should have reduced the number of Terms of Reference (ToR) as set by the NGT within the permissible limit. This was needed considering the vastness of sensitive components involving so many stakeholders and keeping in view the on-going pandemic scenario.

Interestingly enough, the agencies incorporated by the three high-power committees (constituted afresh by the NGT) either did not submit their reports to the Justice Katakey committee in due time or got involved in the PIL suit pending at the Gauhati High Court and at the NGT forum (through petitions in various matters related to the drilling).

Among the many responsibilities reposed on the three high-powered committees set up by the NGT were the following: Pin down accountability for alleged failure of OIL in following the safety protocols to prevent the incident and initiating remedial steps to prevent such incidents in future; non-compliance of statutory norms under the water, air and environment laws and remedial action; and assessment of damage to the environment and restoration measures including the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and the Maguri-Motapung Wetland.

Also read: BAGHJAN BLOWOUT: NGT Order Exposes Failure of Various Probe Panels

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