Assess environmental impact of gas project,court tells RIL

In the backdrop of rising environmental concerns,the bench comprising Justice Prabha Sridevan and Justice GM Akbar Ai ordered that the government must satisfy itself that any damage,which might be caused by the operations of the natural gas project,was not irreversible. RIL should be prepared and must sufficiently secure the cost of reversing any damage.

The petitioner had alleged that the project to establish a block valve station and pipeline on the Godavari basin in Dariyalatippu village in Adavipulam in Yanam will affect the livelihood of fishermen there and the local environment.

“The attitude of the RIL disturbs us. We expect the RIL to have greater social responsibility. If an environmental disaster strikes,it would strike the mighty and the weak equally. We do not understand why RIL should have commenced the production and then obtained the approval,” said the bench,ordering that the government should set up necessary infrastructure to conduct periodical surveys and enforce the stipulations,subject to which the permit might be granted.

However,before granting approval,the government should ask Reliance to publish its proposal so that the public,particularly those likely to be affected by the project,were made aware of it to ensure transparency. On a critical note,the bench added that this would at least safeguard against the decision of the government based solely upon narrow political objectives.