Breaking: Controversial Oil Drilling in Precious Assam Wildlife Sanctuary Sparks Fierce Debate!
The Centre’s wildlife panel has given the nod for oil and gas exploration within the eco-sensitive zone of Assam’s Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. The proposal by Vedanta Group’s Cairn Oil & Gas was approved by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, during a meeting on December 21. The endorsement follows previous recommendations by Assam’s chief wildlife warden and the Forest Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry, citing “national interest.”
The exploration site is about 13 kilometers from the sanctuary, which was inspected by officials from the Union Environment Ministry, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Assam Forest Department on November 15. The NBWL meeting records indicate that exploratory drilling would inflict minimal damage to this fragile ecosystem, though commercial drilling is currently off the table. Vedanta Group has assured that only exploration aimed at identifying hydrocarbon reserves will be conducted, promising that any extraction activities, if deemed viable, would take place outside the eco-sensitive zone.
The exploration project, situated in a disputed area along the Assam-Nagaland border, requires careful negotiation with local communities. Engagement with the Nagaland government and Village Council is mandatory before operations can commence, as communicated by the villagers.
The eco-sensitive zone spans 264.92 square kilometers, connecting the sanctuary to the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest and other forested regions in Nagaland. This is vital for the region’s seven primate species. However, human activities continue to put the sanctuary under pressure. The plan to electrify a railway line traversing the sanctuary, recommended by the Standing Committee, adds to these concerns.
This development underscores the ongoing tension between developmental aspirations and ecological preservation in sensitive regions.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-centre-approves-oil-and-gas-exploratory-drilling-in-hoollongapar-gibbon-wildlife-sanctuary-1153692-2025-01-13?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-01-13 08:34:00
