65 species of fish, 89 percent of river dolphin population, 42 species of aquatic plants, and 24 species of mollusc have been completely wiped out from the Maguri-Motapung wetland area in the last five months. The survey records the birth of a still born human child and also that of a gibbon.
Further 44.4 percent mortality rate was recorded amongst cattle, 22.2 percent of these being stillborn calves. And not to forget the 612 families that are severely affected apart from the damage incurred by bird and insect species.
Animals among the worst hit by the Baghjan devastation | Photo: Hiranmoyee Moran on Facebook
All these are the result of just one accident that has led to the incessant burning of an inferno for the last five months. Yes, the damages incurred are attributed to the Baghjan well number 5 blowout alone.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) set up an investigating committee under the chairmanship of former judge of the Gauhati High Court, Justice Brojendra Prasad Katakey. The committee submitted its report on 31st October last and the findings are devastating.
Most importantly, the NGT Committee has found the operation of the Baghjan 5 and 26 other oil wells by Oil India Limited (OIL) to be illegal as the company does not have the necessary consent from the various authorities to operate.
List of infractions of the various laws:
1. The investigating committee found that, “OIL does not have, till date, the required consent to establish and/or consent to operate to either carry out drilling and testing of hydrocarbons in Well Baghjan-5 under the DSNP Area.” This indicates serious and grave infraction against the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rule, 1989 and the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. The Committee, therefore, recommended that direction be issued to the Pollution Control Board, Assam to take appropriate legal action against OIL and its officials for violation of the mandatory requirements.
2. Further, any kind of mining and polluting industries were prohibited in eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) by the Supreme Court and approval from the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) was deemed mandatory before conditional approval of the same. It was also found that OIL did not carry out any Biodiversity Impact Assessment Study. Thus, continuous contempt of the Supreme Court‘s directions was observed. The apex court had earlier granted conditional approval to OIL to undertake the present extraction of hydrocarbons from the proposed wells including the Well Baghjan-5.
3. Oil India Limited also does not have the necessary environmental clearance under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 1994.
4. It was found that the ambient noise levels in and around Well Baghjan No. 5 are well above the permissible standards as prescribed by the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
5. Lastly, Central Pollution Control Board classifies “Oil and gas extraction including CBM (offshore & on-shore extraction through drilling wells as Red Category industries and prohibits their operation in ecologically fragile areas/protected areas. Neither OIL nor PCBA have clarified their position before the Committee qua the inconsistency with the mandate given by the Central Pollution Control Board qua industries and the extent of their non-compliance.
Flaws in operation leading to the blowout
On 27th May last, a blowout occurred at the Baghjan 5 oil well and a fire erupted after a explosion on 9th June. In its follow-up operation to contain the inferno, the lives of three officials have been lost. A continuous effort from national and international experts alike have failed to douse the fire, recording as the longest in India.
The National Green Tribunal Committee reports the following reasons as probable causes of the blowout:
i) There was deficiency in understanding of the gravity of a critical operation like removal of BOP without having a confirmed and tested secondary safety barrier.
ii) There was deficiency in proper planning of critical operations. There was a clear mismatch between planning and its execution at site and deviations from the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
iii) There were serious deficiencies of the proper level of supervision of critical operation at the well site both from the contractor as well as from OIL.
Environment and biodiversity assessment of the affected landscape
Experts assessed the damage incurred on the environment and ecosystem of the Baghjan blowout site and surrounding landscape including the Maguri Motapung Beel, Dibru Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve cum National Park, and on the human habitation of the area.
The study revealed that some of the prominent species were completely wiped out from the Maguri-Motapung wetland area. In the last 5 months following the incident, the fish diversity drastically declined in the Maguri-Motapun Beel ecosystem. Of the 87 species reported earlier, only 22 species were found during a survey. The team recorded 35 varieties of dead fish.
The encounter rate of Gangetic River Dolphin in the area has decreased by 89% post of the oil blowout.
A heavy amount of oil and smoke was released from the Baghjan EPS on several occasions. The birth of a still-born baby was reported which was noted as baby IUFD (Intra Uterine Fatal Death). The committee has recommended an urgent need of assessing the effects of a blowout on the health of villagers, especially pregnant women and children.
It needs to be mentioned that Maguri Motapung harbours a wide range of ornamental fish species that are not easily available in other pockets and fetches high value in the international market. Most of these are threatened with extinction.
The said ecosystem had 57 species of aquatic macrophytes (plants), only 15 species of which are found now.
Out of the 26 mollusk species reported from the wetland, only 4 species could be recorded in the survey. Notably, these mollusks were an important diet of the inhabitants of the area, especially the lower economic classes.
In a heartbreaking incident, a Hoolock gibbon gave birth to a stillborn. Reportedly, the female carried the dead baby around for 4 days. Later the mother was found dead. It is assumed by experts that, during pregnancy, the female gibbon was compelled to feed on contaminated leaves and plant parts apart from direct exposure to the xenobiotic pollutants.
Cattles were also exposed to such pollutants and have experienced similar situations. 44.4 percent mortality rate amongst cows was recorded, 22.2 percent of these being stillborn calves. Cattles have also contracted skin diseases.
Consistent vibration still occurring around Baghjan Well-5 has led to the falling down of concrete houses along the bank of Lohit River, adjacent to Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
Compensation recommended by NGT to the affected families
The National Green Tribunal has ordered immediate compensation of 612 families under two categories. A total of 173 families who have been severely affected are to be given a compensation of Rs. 25 lakhs each. The houses of 57 of these families have been completely gutted in the blaze.
439 more families that have been recognized as ‘worst sufferers’ are to receive an interim.
Protests of locals against Oil India Limited has continued over the months. A closure notice was issued by the Pollution Control Board on 20th June, ordering closing down of production and drilling at the Baghjan oil field. However, the same was retracted within a week.
