The support and encouragement provided by various organisations and individuals has greatly helped in the preparation of this report.

Authorities of Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemical Ltd. are gratefully acknowledged for their co-operation during the course of this study. I would like to place on record my special gratitude to Shri Utpal Das, General Manager and Shri Apurva Sharma, Deputy General Manager of Corporate and Strategic Planning Division; and Shri A.K. Das, Chief Manager, Environment., Shri H.K. Das, Sr. Technical Services Engineers and Shri M.M. Baishya, Manager Technical Services for their support in the conduct of reconnaissance studies and for their cooperation in the arrangement of logistics during the field work.

Several officials of the Assam State Forest Department have rendered their cooperation by providing the much needed information on the ecology of the area. Shri P.N. Lahan, CCF (Wildlife)., Shri M.M. Sharma, CF (Social Forestry)., Shri A.K. Singh, DFO (Working Plan), Shri D.R. Doley, ACF and Md. M. Ali, ACF are gratefully acknowledged for their help.

The support rendered by the scientific community and NGO's of Assam has been of immense help in generating the database for establishing the baseline status of project environment. Shri Atanu Bose and Shri Arnab Bose of Nature's Foster, Bongaigaon were not only lively companions during the field work but were also valuable sources of information on the ecology of the study area. Their co-operation is thankfully acknowledged.

Services of Shri Amrendra Kumar, EIA Cell and Shri G. Shanmugam, GIS Cell and Shri Narinder Singh Bist are sincerely acknowledged for cartographic work and Desk Top Printing of this report.

(Dr. Asha)

Faculty Incharge, EIA Cell