Daily Current Affairs

The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Assam government regarding a plea by Oil India Limited (OIL) to conduct Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) beneath the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. The proposed project aims to access hydrocarbon reserves estimated to constitute three percent of India's total reserves, targeting depths of up to 4,000 meters outside the protected area's boundaries. The legal dispute centers on the refusal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to approve the diversion of 0.069 hectares of forest land, citing a 2023 apex court judgment that restricts mining activities within national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.