SC reconstitutes panel to assess damage caused by oil well explosion

NEW DELHI: Fifteen months after a massive blowout at Oil India Limited’s Baghjan oil well in Assam resulted in damage to environment and displacement of over 9,000 persons, the Supreme Court on Thursday reconstituted an expert committee to assess the damage caused to the environment and suggest a remedial restoration plan within a month.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) set up 10-member committee headed by Assam chief secretary on February 19 which had members from state and central government departments along with Oil India Limited (OIL) managing director to provide a biodiversity restoration roadmap and an assessment of the damage in six months. The tribunal set up the committee on a petition by activist Bonani Kakker.