The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has revised its order imposing an interim penalty of Rs 25 crore on Oil India Ltd (OIL)/
The NGT on Friday deferred its payment till the actual amount and its disbursement plan are worked out by the committee formed by it, Assam Tribune reported.
The NGT had on June 25 imposed fine on OIL over its failure to stop the fire in the Baghjan oil well resulting in damage to the environment.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel on Friday deferred its June 24 direction on depositing Rs 25 crore with the district magistrate.
“We do not find any ground for recall of the impugned order but are inclined to modify it with regard to immediate deposit of Rs 25 crore. Even though the order was passed ex-parte, the basis of the order remains even after considering the present interim applications and after hearing senior counsel. Incident and damage remain largely undisputed,” the Bench said.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for OIL, told the NGT that OIL has deposited a sum of Rs 4.83 crore with the Tinsukia District Magistrate as interim relief for the affected families.
It has also set apart a budget of more than Rs 130 crore towards operation cost in controlling the blowout at Baghjan.