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Citing national interest, the Assam wildlife department has recommended to the Centre that forest clearance be granted to a Cairn Oil and Gas proposal for oil and gas exploration in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Hollongapar Gibbon wildlife sanctuary, home to the endangered Hoolock Gibbon and wild elephants, official records show. Cairn Oil and Gas, Vedanta’s subsidiary, has sought diversion of 4.49 hectares of forest land for oil and gas exploration drilling in Jorhat , Assam, and is currently pending before the Union Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), which appraises proposals for forest diversion. FAC had last month sought the state Chief Wildlife Warden’s views on the project from a wildlife conservation point of view. Chief Wildlife Warden Sandeep Kumar noted that the ESZ area of the sanctuary sees significant movement of wild elephants and conservation of their habitat is crucial. He said that, therefore, “appropriate scientific interventions shall have to be undertaken while implementing the above mentioned project in Dessoi Valley RF.” “As the project is of national interest, it may be recommended for granting Forest Clearance subject to the following conditions,” the Chief Wildlife Warden said. Among the four conditions mentioned, the top wildlife officer said that the exploration work should happen with minimal tree felling without causing “adverse impact” to “wild animals and their habitat.” Further, the officer said, “The user agency shall take adequate measures against all kinds of pollution likely to be generated due to implementation of the project including disasters like oil and gas leakage and explosion of the well.” Also, for the wildlife conservation plan and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict, 2% of the total project cost shall be deposited with the Chief Wildlife Warden, he said. Click here to join The Indian Express on WhatsApp and get latest news and updates An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More None
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