GUWAHATI: The Assam Forest Department was slapped with a fine of Rs. 10,000 by a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court on 20th October for failing to file requisite affidavit against a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to giving permission to Oil India Limited (OIL) to drill seven wells inside Dibru - Saikhowa National Park.
The Hon'ble Division Bench comprised of the Chief Justice (Acting) Sri N. Kotishwar Singh and Justice Sri Manish Choudhury.
The PIL numbered 35/2020 was filed by advocate Mrinmoy Khatoniar in the Gauhati High Court raising a number of serious objections to the approval for hydrocarbon exploration, including an exemption to public hearing, during the clearance process.
"The court imposed the penalty on the Forest Department for not filing the requisite affidavit regarding violation of the Supreme Court order related to the Bio Diversity Impact Assessment Study," the petitioners' advocate Debajit Kr Das told PTI.
The matter has been fixed after on 19th November for consideration of the stay of Environmental Clearance granted for the seven hydrocarbon projects in eco-sensitive Dibru Saikhowa National Park.
