GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court on 17th August issued notice to the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Assam Government and the Assam forest department, as well as Oil India Limited, asking them to reply to the charges filed against them.
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Oil India Limited (OIL) had earlier said that it would be using Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) technology to explore hydrocarbon inside Dibru Saikhowa.
A PIL 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.
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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had earlier directed the MoEF&CC and the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) to respond to the questions raised by the appellant in this regard by 20th July. But the same has not been submitted.
The date of submission is now extended to 17th September.
The next hearing of the Gauhati High Court is scheduled for 30th September.