Environment Ministry approves oil and gas drilling in Assam's Hoollongapar Sanctuary, sparks conservation concerns
Environment Ministry approves oil and gas drilling in Assam's Hoollongapar
Sanctuary, sparks conservation concerns
Hillol Jyoti Talukdar, India Today NE
July 31, 2024,
The Union Environment Ministry has granted approval for exploratory oil and
gas drilling by Cairn India, the oil and gas division of Vedanta Ltd, in
various regions of Assam, including the ecologically sensitive Hoollongapar
Sanctuary.
This decision has raised alarm over potential threats to the local
population of endangered hoolock gibbons. Official documents disclose that
Cairn India plans to utilize 4.4998 hectares of reserved forest land for
drilling activities within the sanctuary's eco-sensitive zone.
Despite the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the ministry deferring its
final verdict, as per the minutes from its meeting on July 4, the project
has received endorsement from both the state government and the regional
office of the environment ministry.
Experts have voiced significant concerns regarding the ecological impact of
the project, warning that even minimal disruptions in the forest canopy
could severely affect the hoolock gibbons, who are dependent on an unbroken
canopy for their movement. Senior primatologist Dilip Chetry stressed the
risks, stating, "Canopy-based animals like hoolock gibbons are unable to
move if their habitat is fragmented."
Classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN), hoolock gibbons have an estimated population of over 12,000
in northeastern India, with about 2,000 residing in Assam. These primates,
known for their monogamous and family-oriented behavior, are critical
indicators of the ecosystem's health.
Although a forest officer has claimed that the project's impact would be
minimal and could be mitigated with a wildlife management and mitigation
plan, the FAC has sought comments from the principal chief conservator of
forests (wildlife) and the chief wildlife warden.
The regional environment ministry office has set conditions for the
project's approval, including stringent safety protocols and measures to
prevent landslides and erosion.
Given the project's location in an eco-sensitive zone, approval from the
National Board of Wildlife is also required. The FAC minutes highlighted
the presence of other species in the area, such as elephants and leopards,
underscoring the region's ecological importance.
This approval follows the catastrophic gas blowout at Oil India Limited’s
Baghjan oilfield in May 2020, which caused significant ecological damage
near Dibru Saikhowa National Park. That incident affected habitats home to
endangered hoolock gibbons and Gangetic dolphins, illustrating the
potential risks associated with oil and gas projects in sensitive areas.
In a related development, the FAC has denied Oil India Ltd's proposal for
extended reach drilling in Dibru Saikhowa National Park. The area, which
harbors species such as leopards, elephants, and hoolock gibbons, was
deemed unsuitable for non-forestry use following directives from the
Supreme Court.
Cairn India is also seeking approval for oil and gas exploration on 1.7155
hectares of forest land in the Namphai reserved forest, part of the Dihing
Patkai Elephant Reserve and adjacent to the Kotha Elephant Corridor. The
FAC has recommended conditional "in principle" approval, requiring a
detailed wildlife conservation plan focused on mitigating human-elephant
conflict.
Cairn India's corporate communications team has not responded to inquiries
regarding measures to mitigate the impact on hoolock gibbons. This silence
leaves crucial questions about the future of the endangered species and the
broader ecological consequences of the project unanswered.
The sanctioning of exploratory drilling in Assam's eco-sensitive zones
underscores the ongoing conflict between developmental projects and
wildlife conservation. The fate of the hoolock gibbon and other species in
these regions remains uncertain as stakeholders await further decisions and
actions from environmental authorities.