Environment Ministry’s Controversial Decision: Urgent Concerns Arise Over Oil and Gas Drilling in Assam’s Pristine Hoollongapar Sanctuary
The Union Environment Ministry has approved exploratory oil and gas drilling by Cairn India, a division of Vedanta Ltd, across various regions of Assam, including the ecologically sensitive Hoollongapar Sanctuary. This decision has raised alarms over potential threats to the endangered hoolock gibbons, which could be severely impacted by disruptions in their canopy-dependent habitat. Cairn India plans to use 4.4998 hectares of reserved forest land for drilling, despite the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) deferring its final verdict as of its July 4 meeting.
Experts warn that even minimal disruptions could fragment the habitat of these canopy-dwelling primates, with senior primatologist Dilip Chetry stressing that the gibbons cannot move if their habitat is fragmented. With an estimated population of over 12,000 in northeastern India, around 2,000 of these monogamous, family-oriented primates reside in Assam, serving as critical indicators of the ecosystem’s health.
Although a forest officer claimed the project’s impact would be minimal and manageable through a wildlife management plan, the FAC has sought further comments from forestry and wildlife chiefs. The regional environment ministry office has set stringent safety protocols and measures to prevent landslides and erosion. Additionally, approval from the National Board of Wildlife is required due to the project’s eco-sensitive location.
This decision comes in the wake of a catastrophic gas blowout at Oil India Limited’s Baghjan oilfield in May 2020, which caused significant ecological damage, highlighting the risks of such projects in sensitive areas. The FAC has already denied Oil India Ltd’s proposal for extended reach drilling in Dibru Saikhowa National Park, citing Supreme Court directives favoring wildlife conservation.
Cairn India is also seeking approval for exploration in the Namphai reserved forest, part of the Dihing Patkai Elephant Reserve. The FAC has recommended conditional approval, demanding a detailed wildlife conservation plan focused on mitigating human-elephant conflict. Cairn India’s corporate communications have yet to respond to inquiries about mitigating the impact on hoolock gibbons, leaving critical ecological questions unanswered. The approval underscores the ongoing tension between development and wildlife conservation in Assam’s eco-sensitive zones.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/environment/story/environment-ministry-approves-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-assams-hoollongapar-sanctuary-sparks-conservation-concerns-1061110-2024-07-31?utm_source=rssfeed
Category :
Tags:
