Baghjan blowout: It may take at least 10 years for the most damaged ecosystem to come back to 70-80 per cent of the original value, says M.K.Yadava probe panel

The Report on Damages to Environment, Biodiversity, Wildlife, Forest & Ecology on account of Blowout and Explosion at OIL Well number BGN-5, Baghjan, Tinsukia, submitted by the one-man inquiry committee headed by Mahendra Kumar Yadava, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam has quantified damage to biodiversity caused by the ecological catastrophe in the affected Dibru-Saikhowa landscape . The blowout occured on May 27, 2020. Massive fire that broke out following the explosion on June 9, lasted for more than five months.

Key findings:

• Estimated 55 per cent of the biodiversity in the affected Dibru-Saikhowa landscape was lost
• More than 29,000 scheduled and unscheduled wild animals and organisms were killed
• It was estimated that damaged wetland area was 1632 Ha, grassland area damaged stood at 523 Ha and stream covering 176 Ha and forest 213 Ha, the degree of damage varying based on the proximity of the ecosystem to the blowout site.
• Sound impacted the whole of the Dibru- Saikhowa National Park and the Bherjan and Podumoni parts of the BBS WLS.
• The Maguri Motapung Beel was directly the most impacted and devasted of all ecoystems. Almost 70 % of the earthworms in the Maguri grasslands and condenstate affected areas were estimated to be dead

• Most bird species have been seen in signle counts ony, other than 15-20 most common birds. 53 % of the bird species showed up only as singleton. Maguri Motapung Beel and Dibru-Saikhowa NP are unique bird habitats, Bird richness of grasslands declined by 59 % and that of the wetlands by 85 %
• It may take at least 10 years for the most damaged ecosystem to come back to 70-80 % of the original value. Thereafter, this could be left to heal on its own. Flowing river system may get restored faster, say a 5years time period unless the bottom of the river is very badly impacted. Forest/Grassland and soil ecosystem also would take 7-10 years to heal fully to get back the old productivity level of the natural system. In agricultural/plantation system which are artificial, it may take 3-5 years only.
• * The explosion that rocked Baghjan on the 9th of June, 2020 at 1.30 pm has been estimated to have a yield of 0.833 kT of TNT. The flame tmperature was estimated and measured to be more than 1200 ⁰ C
• It was estimated that about 64,000 kg of condensate oil containing heavier hydrocarbons might have fallen around 3km radius of the blowout on the south side of the blowout site over an estimated area of 589 Ha. About 24 Ha area around the flame was severely burnt, and about 102 Ha partially burnt.
• The sound emanating from the flame was characteristic of jet planes taking off or flying past with breakneck speeds during wartime. People also complained of very intolerable noise.

• All those who worked or lived within 700m of the blowout site, were exposed to extreme noise of more than 75dBA. These are all breaches of the permissible limits under the EPA [Environment (Protection) Act], 1986.
• Polycylic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) many of which are carcinogenic, and organic substances were found in high levels.
• Crop grown on contaminated soil may appear to be normal and healthy in appearance, but might be internally, accumulating harmful chemicals. Such crop on consumption would pose serious risk of cancer amongst the consuming population.
• Openbill stork population may be at risk due to high molluscs death in the areas. Moths and butterflies have suffered severely in the area due to constant deaths because of the flame. Moth and butterflies have been seen largely as singletons. Of odonates, damsel flies have suffered the worst. Lack of odonates can adversely affect butterfly populations. PAH concentrations and low DO [Dissolved Oxygen] levels would adversely [affect] populations of fish fingerlings, tadpoles and other aquatic insects which are prey/food of odonates.
• Post-blowout, the Gangetic river dolphin population has taken a hit. From an estimated population of 28-34 dolphins earlier, the current estimates point to not more than four dolphins. The underwater sound pollution is possibly impacting the dolphins adversely. The death of a dolphin is confirmed to have been caused by organic chemicals. The hoolock gibbons at Barekuri were adversely impacted by the oil spill. They refused to eat for at least two days. One mother gave birth to a stillborn baby, and she also died after a gap of 25 days. Most large mammals have moved out of the area, and a few that got trapped could have ingested organic chemicals while grazing and drinking water.
• The OIL spill seems to have affected the plant community, especially agricultural and horticultural crops, adversely. It has been reported that flowering and fruiting in several species have been impacted, as the new flowers appear to be falling off from the plants prematurely. Crop production may, eventually decline.
• The two EIA (Environment Impact Assessment)Reports submitted by M/s Oil India Limited were found wanting in quality and content and did not stand up to the mark required for proper ecological handling of such a sensitive project next to a national park and a biodiversity hotspot. It appears that the EIA reports were not evaluated, and the findings/data supplied were not examined critically.”
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest F&Climate Change (MoFF&CC) seemed to have “forgotten its own notification” declaring Dibru-Saikhowa as a biosphere reserve and “missed the knowledge of existence of the Dibrua-Saikhowa National Park declared in 1999”.
• The MoEF&CC “may be burdened with heavy penalty” if no amendments were made to the Environment Clearence issued in 2011.
• While the EIA report clearly mentions that there exists a national park and a wildlife sanctuary in the immediate vicinity of the project neither the M/s OIL nor the MoEFF&CC have the knowledge of it.
• The next nearest biodiversity hot spot is the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere Reserve spread over 350 to 650 km to the north, northeast and northwest of the blow out. The nearest point of the park lies within 900 m of the blow out ground zero. In between the Park and the blow out area lies the Lohit branch of the mighty Brahmaputra that has a confluence with Dangori river and later Dibru river, largely known as Dibru or even Dangori river. The river starting from Sadia Dhola bridge on the upper reaches to the Bogiebeel on the downstream forms a rich habitat of the Gangetic River Dolphins.

• The landscape is rich in biodiversity, ecology and contains fragile ecosystems that harbour some of the most endangered, rare, vulnerable, threatened and near-threatened wildlife.
• The blowout had brought more than thousand families to the streets, and about 300-400 families lost whatever they owned in terms of physical possession near the site of blow out. It was traumatic, and no amount of compensation could buy them what they lost.
• The people are largely small and marginal farmers or share-croppers. Paddy is the main crop, and people have in their Bariland, plants of betel nut, climbers of Paan, vegetable garden and kitchen garden. Tea plant are now very commonly found in almost every household. While most area within 2-3 km radius is occupied by either the water bodies, rivers or grasslands on one hand, and tea garden on the other hand. The farmlands are very few. Most people have occupied the non-cadestral Government land and doing agriculture on those land parcel.
• The amount to be realized from the Polluters should not be less than Rs 6800 crore or Rs 680 crore per annum for 10 years from M/s OIL and their owner MoPNG. It has to be noted here that MoPNG and the other government owned oil PSUS own together a share of 86.44 % in OIL. As the Government of India is the owner, it can be deducted that the MoPNG may be liable upto 86.44 % and for the rest, OIL may foot the bill from its own resources, which comes to 13.56%.

Sushanta Talukdar

Photos courtesy Oil India Limited