Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, has voiced strong concerns over a proposed oil and gas exploration project in the eco-sensitive zone of the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam. In a letter addressed to Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, Gogoi emphasized the potential environmental risks associated with the project, particularly the threat it poses to the critically endangered Hoolock Gibbons, which inhabit the sanctuary.
Gaurav Gogoi Urges Reconsideration of Oil and Gas Project Near Hollongapar Gibbon
Representing the Jorhat constituency, where the sanctuary is located, Gogoi questioned the Assam Wildlife Department’s decision to recommend conditional forest clearance for the project. He highlighted that the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique and irreplaceable ecosystem, and any disturbance could have dire consequences for its biodiversity. The MP urged the Union Minister to reconsider the clearance, emphasizing the need to prioritize the protection of the sanctuary and its inhabitants over industrial interests.
The project in question has been proposed by Cairn India, the oil and gas unit of Vedanta Limited, owned by industrialist Anil Agarwal.
The company seeks to explore oil and gas within the notified eco-sensitive zone surrounding the sanctuary. The regional office of the Union Environment Ministry had given its approval for the project, following the recommendations of the nineteenth report of the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, which focused on the safety and security of oil installations, particularly in light of the Baghjan blowout incident.
The ministry has stipulated that special measures must be taken to prevent landslides or erosion in the area. Additionally, the final approval for the project is contingent upon obtaining consent from the National Board for Wildlife, ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken to safeguard the sanctuary’s delicate ecosystem.
