Protest Against Draft EIA Gathers Momentum in NE States, Baghjan Blowout Victims Join

The All Assam Students’ Association, New Delhi is launching a 'Twitter storm' protesting against the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report 2020 between 7 PM and 9 PM on August 3. Earlier, the North Eastern Students’ Organisation (NESO) had written to the environment ministry highlighting the impact of EIA and demanded its withdrawal.

A statement released by the AASA said that the draft EIA was introduced to give powers to the central government to take measures for the protecting and improving the quality of environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution. “On the contrary, this draft is now seen as a design to dilute existing environmental regulations through different means. The proposed changes are not guided by environmental concerns but by the concerns of corporate,” the Association added. “The changes mentioned in the draft are not in the interest of environment protection and going to affect Northeast India the most,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the people affected by the Baghjan Gas Well blowout, who are on an indefinite hunger strike since July 31, have also joined the voices of protest against the draft EIA, highlighting the impact it will have on the lives of people like them who are living in eco-sensitive zones.

The victims of the gas well blowout are protesting against the delay in settling their compensation demand by July 27, as assured by the Tinsukia district administration as per reports.

“We want the EIA scrapped. Who better than us to convey what should be the proposed rules and regulations for setting up new projects, drilling or exploration of natural resources? We fear there will be more Baghjan-like situations/mishaps if the draft EIA is passed in its present avatar. It threatens people like us, living in eco-sensitive zones. We will write to the ministry seeking its scrapping in a couple of days,” Hemanta Moran, a Baghjan resident, was quoted in a report by The Telegraph.

There has been an increase in the momentum against the protests against the EIA, particularly in the Northeastern states, as most see it as a threat to the people and the ecologically sensitive area.

Also read: Baghjan Oil Field Fire: A Prelude to Ecological Disaster in North East

The explosion and the damaged well had caused extensive damage to the nearby Dibru Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve and the Maguri Motapung wetland, as well as forced nearly 11,000 people living in the vicinity to be shifted to relief camps. The people have been living in the camps ever since, even though the number of people in the camps has decreased according to the district authorities.

“Our lives and livelihood have been disrupted. The gas well is yet to be capped. We don’t know how much time it will take to restore normalcy, restore the ecology. Besides settling our compensation issue, the government needs to take a close look at our plight and prepare the EIA with proper checks and balances. We will write to the ministry,” The Telegraph quoted Moran as saying.

Notably, a preliminary report of a committee formed by the National Green Tribunal to look in to mishap has blamed those operating the gas well for the blow out. “The committee has found “deficiency” on three counts — in understanding the gravity of the situation, supervision on the part of the contractor (company looking after the maintenance of the well) and OIL and proper planning of critical operations,” The Telegraph reported.

Along with the Baghjan victims and the students’ associations, former Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi has also written to the Prime Minister highlighting the arbitrary powers that the draft EIA seeks to give to the authorities. “Such arbitrary power is likely to be misused by big corporate groups,” Gogoi said.

The veteran Congress leader added in the letter, “The alarming melting of Himalayan Glaciers has resulted large-scale flood and erosion in the Northeast region and due to massive deforestation Assam has been facing the main problem of flood and erosion....Moreover it will lead to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, water resources, fertility of agricultural soil, decrease of ground water level, pollution.... It will ultimately have negative impact on health and economic activities in the region and lead to starvation, unemployment too.”