Thread by @tanmay_shinde99

#BaghjanOilField fire
now under control but huge loss of biodiversity feared along with livelihood of villagers.
Oilfield which exploded was less than a kilometer away from Dibru Saikhowa national park& 500 metres from Maguri wetland,an important bird area.
#SaveMaguriBeel
(1/n)

The Dibru river is full of dead fish now due to oilfield blowout. Two days ago, Gangetic river dolphins floated up. A thin film of oil has covered the river,” said Nirantar Gohain, an environmentalist from Natun-Rangagora
#SaveDibruSaikhowa
#SaveMaguriBeel
(2/n)

The Maguri-Motapung Beel (wetlands is 500m away from the oil well that exploded on June 9.A little further on is the 340 sq km protected area of the Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Assam.The oil spill&fire caused severe damage to the biodiversity
(3/n)
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-oil-…

The Dibru Saikhowa national park is a biosphere reserve where rivers Siang,Dibang & Lohit meet to form river Bramhaputra,the park is a mosaic of forests,swamps ,wetlands &houses critically endangered bird species,Gangetic dolphins etc but the OIL obtained permits to conduct(4/n)

Drilling&exploration of oil &gas at 7 locations in Dibru Saikhowa.
However a SC 2014 judgement restricted mining within 1KM boundary of a protected area,but OIL field a petition seeking that restrictions should only be for minerals exc&not oil& gas
thewire.in/environment/ho…
(5/n)

ToR required OIL to conduct a public hearing on the proposed site of the project. However, OIL requested the EAC to exempt it from conducting a public hearing. The EAC obliged and the ToR was amended in February 2017, to take out the requirement of public hearing.
(6/n)

Locals & conservationists raised concerns regarding the impact of the pipeline on Maguri Motapung Beel wetland. They asked how the omission of a public hearing could be allowed at this juncture.
#SaveDibruSaikhowa
#SaveMaguriBeel
(7/n)

In less than a month after the EAC recommended the project, on January 16, 2020, the MoEFCC made an amendment to the EIA law and made all on and offshore oil&gas exploration projects as B2
as B2 projects do not need public consultations.
#SaveDibruSaikhowa
#SaveMaguriBeel
(8/n)

May 11, 2020, the MoEFCC granted environmental clearance for the drilling and testing of oil and gas at seven sites in Dibru Saikhowa.
(9/n)
#BaghjanOilField
thewire.in/environment/ho…

The MOEFCC has again failed to stand by the side of conservation& advocating for sustainable development.
While they put the argument,these projects being of national interest they shouldn't forget that the conservation of these ecosystems is also a matter of national interest.