Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Oil Spill In Maguri-motapung Wetland In Assam, Northeast India: A Socio-ecological Disaster


Affiliations
1 Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar-788011,, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Wetlands are highly susceptible to the deadly impacts of oil spill events due to its minimal water flow, which might take several years to restore. A recent incident of an uncontrolled blowout of an oil-producing well in Baghjan oilfield of the Oil India Limited and subsequent fire outbreak has severely threatened the socio-ecologically important Maguri-Motapung Beel, one of largest floodplain wetlands in Assam, Northeast India. The oil blowout coated the wetland water and its surrounding areas with emulsified oil layers, and together with fire outbreak, the incident has decimated many aquatic flora and fauna causing irreversible environmental damage. In addition, the blowout induced fire has also imposed a catastrophic impact on the riparian people of the wetland displacing them towards relief camps leaving their homes. Government authorities should emphasize implementing appropriate management actions to check the installation and/or operation of such oil-producing wells and other constrictive/industrial activities at least within the 10 km radius of any wetland areas that sustain the livelihoods of thousands of poor people.

Keywords

Oil blow-out, Ecosensitive area, Floodplain Livelihood impact.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Bania, R., & Biswas S. P. (2012) Fish based ecotourism in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. In: Proceeding of the National Seminar on Biodiversity of the North- East with special Reference to the Brahmaputra Valley, Kamalabari, India, 26 April 2012.

  • Bhatta, L. D., Chaudhary, S., Pandit, A., Baral, H., Das, P. J., & Stork, N. E. (2016) Ecosystem service changes and livelihood impacts in the maguri-motapung wetlands of Assam, India. Land, 5(2), 15. doi:10.3390/land5020015.

  • Borgohain, A., & Bania, R. (2013) Potentiality for promoting fish based ecotourism for sustainable development’. In: B. C. Borah & H. C. Bhattacharyya (Eds.), Strategy for Developing Fisheries in Flood Affected Areas of Assam (pp. 112- 127). Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, India.

  • Boruah, S., Ganguli, P., Biswas, S. P., & Sharma, A. (2008) Land use land cover changes-its impact on the wetland ecosystem of Maguri Beel. In: Assam. Proceeding Conservation and Restoration of Lakes. Available at: http:// brahmaputrariversymposium.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Land%20 Use%20Land%20Cover%20changes.pdf. Last accessed 08/06/2020.

  • EPA (2016). Sensitivity of Freshwater Habitats. Available at: https://archive.epa. gov/emergencies/content/learning/web/html/freshwat.html#:~:text=Oil%20 spills%20occurring%20in%20freshwater,more%20destructive%20to%20the%20 environment.&text=They%20are%20often%20used%20for,sources%20for%20 various%20freshwater%20organisms. Last accessed June 06 2020.

  • Naqvi, S. (2020) Blowout at Oil India well threatens national park in upper Assam. Down To Earth, https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/blowout-atoil- india-well-threatens-national-park-in-upper-assam-71464#:~:text=At%20 least%202%2C000%20people%20have,day%20on%20May%2030%2C%202020. Last accessed June 08, 2020.

  • Stattersfield, A. J., Crosby, M. J., Long, A. J., & Wege, D. C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. Cambridge, UK: Bird Life International.


Abstract Views: 182

PDF Views: 0




  • Oil Spill In Maguri-motapung Wetland In Assam, Northeast India: A Socio-ecological Disaster

Abstract Views: 182  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Priyanka Sarkar
Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar-788011,, India

Abstract


Wetlands are highly susceptible to the deadly impacts of oil spill events due to its minimal water flow, which might take several years to restore. A recent incident of an uncontrolled blowout of an oil-producing well in Baghjan oilfield of the Oil India Limited and subsequent fire outbreak has severely threatened the socio-ecologically important Maguri-Motapung Beel, one of largest floodplain wetlands in Assam, Northeast India. The oil blowout coated the wetland water and its surrounding areas with emulsified oil layers, and together with fire outbreak, the incident has decimated many aquatic flora and fauna causing irreversible environmental damage. In addition, the blowout induced fire has also imposed a catastrophic impact on the riparian people of the wetland displacing them towards relief camps leaving their homes. Government authorities should emphasize implementing appropriate management actions to check the installation and/or operation of such oil-producing wells and other constrictive/industrial activities at least within the 10 km radius of any wetland areas that sustain the livelihoods of thousands of poor people.

Keywords


Oil blow-out, Ecosensitive area, Floodplain Livelihood impact.

References