Centre clears oil & gas exploratory drilling in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary

The Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam is home to the endangered Hoolock gibbon, Bengal slow loris, stump-tailed macaque, northern pig-tailed macaque, rhesus macaque and capped langur. Indian elephants, leopards, civets, wild boars and various types of squirrels also inhabit the sanctuary, all thriving under the canopy of Hollong trees, which rise to heights of 12–30 metres.

Unfortunately, exploratory drilling for oil and gas has been approved within the eco-sensitive zone surrounding the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. This has raised significant concerns about the balance between energy development and the need to protect India's unique wildlife habitats.

Named after the country's only ape species, the Hoolock gibbon, the sanctuary is a critical refuge for biodiversity. It provides essential forest corridors connecting the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest and habitats in Nagaland, underscoring its ecological importance.

The sanctuary itself spans 20.98 square kilometres, with an eco-sensitive zone extending over 264.92 square kilometres to ensure connectivity with nearby forested areas in Assam and Nagaland. Eco-sensitive zones are designated areas rich in environmental resources that require special protection.

The proposed oil exploration project, valued at Rs 264 crore, is led by Cairn Oil & Gas, a subsidiary of the Vedanta Group. The site is located 13 kilometres from the sanctuary and covers 4.4998 hectares, including a 1.44-hectare well pad and a 3.0598-hectare access road, all within the eco-sensitive zone.

In August 2024, the project received approval from Assam's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the Chief Wildlife Warden and the Forest Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry. Subsequently, the country’s top wildlife conservation authority also approved the exploratory drilling project following a site inspection on 15 November 2024.

The inspection team, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Wildlife Institute of India and Assam’s Forest Department, concluded that exploratory drilling would have limited immediate environmental impact. However, they strongly opposed commercial drilling within the eco-sensitive zone.

Cairn Oil & Gas has described the project as being "strictly for the purpose of discovering hydrocarbon reserves". Hydrocarbons, which form the basis of crude oil, natural gas and coal, are the world’s largest energy source. The Government of India is aiming to develop the North East Region as a major hydrocarbon hub by 2030.

A senior ministry official noted that exploratory drilling is a critical step in hydrocarbon extraction, potentially paving the way for commercial drilling.

To address environmental concerns, the National Board for Wildlife has imposed stringent conditions, including the installation of real-time digital surveillance systems to monitor operations, the submission of detailed operational plans to regulatory bodies before commencement, minimal tree felling and strict pollution control measures.

While Cairn Oil & Gas claims to be an "environment-conscious company", hydrocarbon extraction remains environmentally damaging. The 2020 Assam gas and oil leak, also known as the Baghjan blowout, serves as a stark reminder of the devastation such activities can cause.

Officials have also pointed out that the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is already under pressure from human activities. A railway line passing through the sanctuary is set to be electrified, a proposal recommended by the Standing Committee.