Outrage as Government Violates Own Rules, Greenlights Vedanta’s Oil Drilling in Eco-Sensitive Zone
Oil and Gas Exploration in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary Sparks Environmental Concerns
Guwahati: The recent in-principle approval granted to Vedanta Ltd for oil and gas exploration within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam’s Jorhat district has elicited strong reactions from wildlife activists and environmentalists.
The sanctuary, situated near Mariani, is a vital habitat for the endangered western hoolock gibbon, India’s sole ape species, and boasts significant biodiversity. Activists argue that the approval contradicts the 2018 gazette notification, particularly Clause 4, which limits industrial activities such as oil and gas exploration due to their high pollution potential, as classified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, activities in such ecologically sensitive areas require meticulous scrutiny. Despite clear legal protections, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has bypassed these safeguards, allowing Vedanta’s exploration to proceed.
Environmental activist and journalist Apurba Ballav Goswami from Golaghat expressed fears of habitat degradation, pollution, and endangerment of the western hoolock gibbon resulting from the exploration activities. The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the MoEFCC approved Vedanta’s Cairn Oil and Gas project on August 27, which involves drilling over 4.49 hectares within the sanctuary’s ESZ.
Goswami warned that drilling operations could disrupt the natural habitat through noise, deforestation, and pollution, causing irreversible harm. Dilip Nath, another environmentalist from Tezpur, highlighted the compromise in conservation efforts, calling for the revocation of the approval to protect the sanctuary’s ecological integrity.
The FAC, influenced by endorsements from Assam’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden, stated that exploration could continue with proper safeguards. However, Nath criticized the decision, noting it bypassed protections under the Environment Protection Act of 1986.
The 2018 ESZ notification highlighted the sanctuary’s importance as an elephant corridor, connecting it to the larger landscape of Nagaland. Activists warn that industrial activities could fragment this crucial habitat, disrupting wildlife movement and heightening human-animal conflicts.
Calls for a review of the decision emphasize the potential dangerous precedent it sets for other eco-sensitive zones across India. The CPCB ranks petrochemical sectors, including oil and gas exploration, as significantly polluting industries, generally restricted in such protected areas. The approval for exploration in this context raises questions about prioritizing industrial interests over environmental conservation.
Original Story https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam/assam-govt-contradicts-own-rules-to-allow-vendanta-for-oil-drilling-in-eco-sensitive-zone.html
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