Assam: Govt contradicts own rules to allow Vendanta for oil drilling in eco-sensitive zone

Guwahati: The decision to grant in-principle approval to Vedanta Ltd for oil and gas exploration in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Jorhat district has raised significant concerns among wildlife activists and environmentalists.

Located near Mariani in Jorhat district, this sanctuary is a critical habitat for the endangered western hoolock gibbon, India’s only ape species. It is home to a rich array of biodiversity.

Wildlife activists argue that allowing oil and gas exploration in such a sensitive region contradicts existing protections, particularly the 2018 gazette notification that declared the sanctuary's ESZ.

This notification, specifically in Clause 4, restricts industrial activities such as oil and gas exploration, citing their classification as the second-most highly polluting industry by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, such activities require careful consideration, especially in areas critical to wildlife conservation.

The Shillong regional office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has bypassed these restrictions and permitted the exploration despite the clear legal framework designed to protect the sanctuary.

An environment activist and journalist from Golaghat, Apurba Ballav Goswami, feared that oil and gas exploration in the wildlife sanctuary could lead to habitat degradation, pollution, and further endangerment of the western hoolock gibbon.

In its meeting on August 27, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the MoEFCC granted in-principle approval to Vedanta's Cairn Oil and Gas proposal for oil and gas exploration drilling on 4.49 hectares within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary.

“The exploration activities, which include drilling and associated operations, could disrupt the natural habitat of the gibbons and other wildlife species. Noise, deforestation, and potential pollution from the exploration process may cause irreparable harm to the sanctuary's biodiversity,” Goswami said.

Another environment activist from Tezpur, Dilip Nath, argued that the approval compromises conservation efforts in the region, particularly for the western hoolock gibbon, whose population is already threatened due to habitat loss.

Nath called for the government to revoke the approval, highlighting the ecological significance of the sanctuary and the need to protect it from industrial activities.

The FAC’s in-principle approval, also referred to as Stage-I clearance, for Vedanta’s Cairn Oil and Gas project at the ESZ of Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, was influenced by key recommendations from Assam’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW). These officials endorsed the project, stating that the exploration activities could proceed with appropriate safeguards.

“This Stage-I clearance allows Vedanta to move forward with the next steps in the approval process, including obtaining additional clearances and fulfilling stipulated conditions before commencing the exploration activities,” Nath said.

Nath said the FAC gave the nod to Vedanta bypassing the ESZ notification for the sanctuary under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which explicitly prohibits such activities.

“This approval under the Forest Conservation Act seems to sidestep the protections established by the ESZ notification, potentially weakening conservation efforts in the state,” Nath also said.

Goswami urged the government to review the decision, pointing out that prioritizing industrial interests in an area protected under the Environment Protection Act could set a dangerous precedent for other eco-sensitive zones across India.

There appears to be a significant mismatch or inconsistency in the decision-making process between Vedanta’s proposal, the recommendations of Assam’s PCCF and CWW, and the MoEFCC office, including the FAC.

This discrepancy becomes more apparent when considering the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) classification of the petrochemical industry, which includes oil and gas exploration, as a highly polluting industry.

It ranks at No. 4 on CPCB’s "17 Category List" of highly polluting industries. This is critical because industries from this list are typically restricted from operating in ecologically sensitive areas, including wildlife sanctuaries.

The 2018 ESZ notification for Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary not only recognized the sanctuary as a crucial habitat for the endangered western hoolock gibbon but also highlighted its significance as a critical elephant corridor.

This corridor, which connects the sanctuary to the Disai and Disai Valley reserved forests, and extends to the adjoining landscape of Nagaland to the south, plays a vital role in facilitating the movement and migration of elephants and other wildlife.

If oil and gas exploration activities are allowed to proceed in the ESZ of Hollongapar, this vital elephant corridor could be severely disrupted.

Wildlife activists and environmentalists warn that such industrial activities would fragment the habitat, potentially blocking the movement of elephants and other species that rely on this corridor. Disruption of this natural passage could increase human-wildlife conflicts and pose further threats to the already endangered elephant population in the region.