Hello,
When it comes to environmental governance, it is often seen that those who are mandated to protect people and nature are often the one who ends up facilitating its unchecked exploitation. If they don’t actively facilitate it, they remain mute to those driving it.
Our latest investigation reveals how the Indian government’s environment ministry, along with other departments and institutes, facilitated the opening up of protected forests and sanctuaries in Assam’s Baghjan region, near Dibru Saikhowa National Park.
The Oil India Limited’s (OIL) project has been facing environmental and community concerns. The requirement of conducting public hearings, a critical step for local input, was also waived off by the union government due to “unruly” local opposition. It is one of the many exceptions, concessions, and ignored procedures in this project.
Experts fear this could open a Pandora’s Box and set a template for others to follow. What is also interesting in this investigation is the shoddy role of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which is the country’s apex wildlife institute.
Read our latest investigation here: Oiling the Wheels: India’s Green Ministry is Bending Backwards to Facilitate Oil Extraction in its Protected Areas
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Warm Regards,
Mayank Aggarwal
Editor
The Reporters’ Collective