Assessment of Environmental quality and Environmental Damage due to oil spill accident at Oil India, Tinsukia, Assam and Scope for Environmental Compensation

This paper addresses an Oil blowout accident occurred in Oil India Baghjan site at Tinsukia, Assam. An assessment of environmental quality deterioration in terms of air, water and soil quality has been carried out on the basis of available baseline environmental data. Impact on ecosystem and environmental damage resulting from this oil blowout has been discussed. This oil blow out site is in proximity to wetland “Maguri Motapung Beel” which was the most impacted ecosystem, the next nearest biodiversity hotspot is the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Biosphere Reserve and the Bherjan-Borajan-Podumoni Wildlife Sanctuary. Habitat Destruction in terms of damage to plant and animal life has been assessed from the environmental data. As a number of such blowouts have been reported during the history of oil drilling activities, it is the responsibility of oil industry to understand the risks of accidents and taking appropriate measures to prevent accidents and minimize their impacts. Provisions of environmental compensation and restoration of environmental damage has also been discussed in purview of existing government policies and legal remedies available. This paper also highlights the need for strengthening of existing environmental laws for adequately compensating environmental damages and restoration on the basis of polluter’s pay principle.