IOCL,OIL,NHAI work in Dehing-Patkai comes under NGT scanner

National Green Tribunal today sought response from the Centre and Assam government on a petition alleging that work of some state-owned companies in and around Dehing-Patkai wildlife sanctuary in Tinsukia district of the state is affecting the environment there.
The tribunal also issued notices and sought responses of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Oil India Ltd, National Highways Authority of India, Coal India Ltd and various state authorities on the petition, which also alleged that their activities is also affecting the two elephant corridors of Golai and Bogapani.
The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar listed the matter for hearing on March 12.

The petition, filed by wildlife biologist Kashmira Kakati, has alleged the state government allowed Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to construct a oil dispatch terminal in Golai elephant corridor in violation of environment laws.
It would not only block the elephant corridor used by the tuskers but would also increase the vehicular traffic in the area, which would be harmful to the environment, the petition, filed through advocate Sanjay Upadhyay, said.
Seeking protection of the elephant habitats, the petition also opposed the government's decision to allow NHAI to build the NH-38 bypass through the Bagopani corridor and prayed for directions that no permanent construction be allowed to come up in Golai corridor.

The petition alleged that construction of NHAI's NH-38 bypass was started without obtaining the pre-requisite forest clearance.
It also alleged that municipal bodies of the area are dumping waste in the reserved forest of the sanctuary which is additionally getting polluted by the untreated discharges from a mine abandoned by Coal India Ltd as well as the activities of Oil India Ltd.