The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on September 19 has asked the Union government, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Assam Gas Company to clarify it whether natural gas can be supplied to tea industries around Kaziranga which have been ordered to shut down for using wood and coal for their operations.    

An association of tea manufacturers have sought directions to authorities concerned to supply them natural gas. The Indian Tea Association in their plea has contended that several tea industries around Kaziranga National Park were ordered by the same NGT to be shut down as they were using boilers fueled by wood, coal or oil in the manufacturing process.    

In the background, A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, ONGC and AGCL to make their stand clear before it on September 20 the plea of the association. The association has sought supply of natural gas to the tea industries so that they can function as per directions of the NGT.