The pollution watchdog, in its closure notice on Saturday, had written that the company has “nonchalantly violated the provisions of law effective causing pollution to the environment”. The board stated that by exercising powers conferred upon it under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, it’s directed OIL to “Close down all. The assembly also as drilling operations. As well as of your all installations of Baghjan Oil Field. Forthwith and to require all necessary measures for extinguishing the fire/blow-out of the Well No. BGN-5.”
“Pollution control panel, Assam served a closure notice directing OIL to shut down all the assembly. Also as drilling operations of all installations of Baghjan oilfield forthwith. Now, OIL is meaning to file a Writ Petition before the Hon’ble Gauhati supreme court challenging. The orders went by PCBA,” OIL said during a statement on Sunday.
OIL to challenge closure notice
OIL has been operating at Baghjan since 2001 and has 21 producing wells during this oilfield. it’s one these, well number 5, that suffered a blowout on May 27 and subsequently caught fire on June 9. pertaining to the blowout incident and subsequent explosion of the well, the board said that the incident shows “negligence and carelessness of authority of M/S OIL, Duliajan towards the safety of people’s life and property within the neighboring area also as towards protection of the environment.”
Both contracts rose by about 9 percent last week. However, after weeks of rising, prices of physical oil have begun to ease, traders and analysts say, as the rally succumbs to the reality of poor refinery margins and brimming storage tanks
The board also held OIL in charge of not submitting the annual report regularly. Which, it said, was “a serious violation and susceptible to be punished under the law.”
Meanwhile, following a tripartite meeting held at Tinsukia deputy commissioner’s office on Saturday. All producing oil and gas wells under Baghjan EPS.