Dimapur, November 15 (MExN): The Guahati High Court has directed the Nagaland Pollution Control Board to ‘ascertain the status of environment’ and steps taken, in villages of Changpang and Tssori villages in Wokha district where crude oil spilling from rigs abandoned by the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) allegedly continue to imperil the villagers and their agricultural lands. The Guahati High Court met November 14, in its first hearing since admitting the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the government by a group of citizens, Mmhonlumo Kikon & Others.
The brief order of the court read: “We, accordingly, direct respondent no.6, the Nagaland State Pollution Control Board constitute a Committee to ascertain the status of environment and steps, if any, required to be taken in the matter. The committee may be constituted within one month from today and the report may be given to this court within two months thereafter. The parties would be at liberty to assist the committee and to suggest the expert who may be associated with the committee.”
The brief order of the court read: “We, accordingly, direct respondent no.6, the Nagaland State Pollution Control Board constitute a Committee to ascertain the status of environment and steps, if any, required to be taken in the matter. The committee may be constituted within one month from today and the report may be given to this court within two months thereafter. The parties would be at liberty to assist the committee and to suggest the expert who may be associated with the committee.”
