SC Accepts Proposal For Mining At Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Subject To Conditions [Read Order]

The Supreme Court has accepted the proposal of the Oil ndia Liited (OIL) to extract hydrocarbon beneath 3900-4000 meters of Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam, subject to certain conditions, mentioned in the minutes of the 44^th meeting of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife held on July 29.

The bench of Justices Madan B.Lokur and Deepak Gupta, on September 7, made it clear that OIL will be bound by the undertaking dated July 25, as given by the Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) for Chairman and Managing Director.

The undertaking includes carrying out bio-diversity impact assessment study through Assam State Biodiversity Board, for which budgetary offer have already been obtained; subsidence study followed with mitigation measures, in order to ensure that there is no impact in the forest surface above the reservoir at height 3900 to 4000 mtr; all mitigation measures will be in place in case of any eventuality causing oil spillage inside the Park area; and periodical schedule test and inspection of the area to assess any abnormality in the surface area above the reservoir inside the Park.