Changpang and Tssori village in the Wokha district of Nagaland have been directly affected by the oil spills. The oil spills have spread 133 sq km into the district affecting another 102 villages indirectly.
The high court order came in reaction to a PIL filed by Mmhonlumo Kikon, executive director of Dialogues on Indigenous Culture and Environment (DICE) in April.
"More than 1,000 villagers in the two villages have been adversely affected by the oil spill from ONGC's 21 oil rigs. It has damaged crops and poisoned water causing many villagers to lose their eyesight and suffer from other health hazards," said Kikon.
Kikon mentioned that the locals have been complaining about the oil spills since 1997 but no action was taken. However, the court's recent order is a positive sign.
"ONGC offered to clean the oil spills if the state government gave it expedition rights in the area. ONGC had started expedition once but was put on halt by the Nagaland government after the locals complained of it," said Kikon.
In the PIL, Kikon has also sought for Rs 1,000 crore compensation for the damage.
"We have consulted the counsels of the Bhopal gas tragedy case to fix the compensation amount as the court order permitted the proposed committee to take help of any of the concerned departments and experts too. The next consideration will be held on March 5 next year," said counsel Gunedhor Singh.