Assam: Only exploratory drilling allowed, no commercial activity in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Guwahati, Jan 12: The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved exploratory oil and gas drilling within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, with strict prohibitions against commercial drilling. The move will spark intense debate over how to balance the country’s energy demands with the imperative to preserve critical wildlife habitats.

This decision, made during the committee’s 81st meeting, permits limited exploratory activity on a 4.4998-hectare area, including a wooded access road, located 13 kilometres from the sanctuary. The sanctuary, which is the country’s only ape species, the endangered Hoolock gibbon, spans 20.98 square kilometres with an ESZ extending 264.92 square kilometres to ensure habitat connectivity with forested areas in Assam and Nagaland.

A Sanctuary Under Stress

The Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot and a crucial corridor for wildlife movement. Named after the Hoolock gibbon, the sanctuary also supports six other primate species. However, the sanctuary has faced increasing threats from habitat fragmentation, particularly due to the railway line that bisects it. This division has isolated gibbon families, reducing genetic variability and threatening the survival of these arboreal species.

Dr Sukumar, a wildlife expert, highlighted the sanctuary’s precarious state during deliberations, emphasizing its role as a “forest island” disconnected from surrounding landscapes.

Approval Amid Safeguards

A site inspection by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Assam Forest Department concluded that exploratory drilling would have limited immediate environmental impact. However, the inspection firmly ruled out commercial extraction activities.

The NBWL’s approval includes stringent safeguards:

Installation of real-time digital monitoring systems.
Submission of detailed operational plans before commencement.
Minimal tree felling and adherence to pollution control measures.
A strict ban on hydrocarbon extraction within the ESZ.

The oil exploration company has assured compliance, emphasizing that any discovered reserves would only be extracted from sites outside the ESZ. Any proposal for extraction of the hydrocarbon reserves discovered would be submitted for sites located outside the ESZ of the Sanctuary.

Local and Regional Concerns

Despite these assurances, concerns persist. Community representatives in neneighbouringagaland, where the proposed site is near disputed areas, voiced objections to any drilling without state-level and local village council approvals. Additionally, human-elephant conflicts, habitat loss, and recent elephant killings in Assam remain critical issues. The committee directed state authorities to take stringent action against offenders and provide updates in future meetings.

Read: Mob attacks Assam Rifles camp in Manipur’s Kamjong district over timber restrictions

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