GUWAHATI: The Gauhati HC on Monday issued a stay on exploration and drilling by Oil India Limited (OIL) at seven hydrocarbon project sites within Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, citing non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s order to conduct a biodiversity impact assessment study, reports Mukut Das.
In an affidavit filed on November 17, the state forest department said OIL hadn't carried out any impact assessment study for extended drilling of seven oil wells in an ecologically fragile zone, which includes the site of the Baghjan blowout that was capped recently. The PSU assured the court that it wouldn’t start drilling operations without completing the recommended study.