Assam: Gibbon Sanctuary oil exploration proposal deferred
Guwahati: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has put on hold a proposal by Cairn Oil and Gas, a Vedanta subsidiary, for oil exploration in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam, home to India's only ape species, the endangered Hoolock Gibbon.
The decision was made by the NBWL's standing committee, chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, citing the need for a site visit before approval.
The proposed oil exploration is slated to take place in the eco-sensitive zone adjacent to the sanctuary, which is inhabited by 120-130 Hoolock Gibbons.
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Despite the forest department recommending the exploration, citing national interest, the NBWL has opted for caution.
In contrast, the NBWL has cleared a proposal by Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON) to electrify a 9-km stretch of the Lumding-Dibrugarh section of the Northeast Frontier Railway, which passes through the sanctuary.
However, this approval comes with conditions: train speeds must be restricted, and adequate animal passage plans must be implemented.
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The Wildlife Institute of India has recommended constructing artificial and natural canopy bridges to enable the Hoolock Gibbons to safely cross the 1.65 km railway track fragmenting the sanctuary.
The NBWL has instructed railways not to energize the electric wires until wildlife passages are in place.