Recent advances in Environment & Forest Laws with special reference to Oil, Petroleum & Gas Sector

Abstract

A workshop was organized recently in by North Eastern Regional Office, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC), Shillong, Meghalaya, supported by Oil Industries at the State Convention Center in Shillong, Meghalaya. The theme of the workshop is, ‘recent advances in Environment & Forest Laws with special regard to Oil, Petroleum & Gas Sector’. More than 120 participants from the regulatory agencies which includes representatives from MoEF & CC, New Delhi, Central Pollution Control Board, State Forest Departments, Department of Geology and Mining and State Pollution Control Boards as well as the industry sectors. The aim of the workshop was to bring both regulators and user agencies concerning Oil, Petroleum and Gas Sectors on one platform for a deliberation on issues about the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and other ancillary acts thereto. The workshop was aimed to discuss and carry out recent Orders, Directions, Guidelines issued by MoEF&CC besides the court orders issued from time to time; and to enlighten user agencies concerning Oil, Petroleum and Gas Sectors on the applicability of the provisions laid down within the EIA Notification, 2006; FC Act, 1980; WP Act, 1972 and activities within Eco-Sensitive Zone and inside Protected Areas. The workshop was designed for pondering on the process of following basically extant rules concerning Environment and Forest by the user agencies and adopt available cleaner technology thereby achieving environmental norms. The main non-compliances of EC stipulated conditions were also discussed.