Cairn Oil And Gas’s Drilling Ops In Dessoi Reserve Forest Not to Hurt Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

The stretch where Cairn Oil & Gas is going to begin drilling operations is 13 kms away from the 21 sqkm Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary.

India’a largest private oil and gas exploration and production company, Cairn Oil & Gas, is all set to begin drilling operations for exploration of oil and gas in eastern Assam’s Jorhat district.

The four and half hectare stretch where the exploration is going to take place falls under the Dessoi Reserve Forest, vast areas of which are under encroachment by miscreants from across the border in Nagaland.

The move has hogged the limelight because the proposed oil exploration area is part of the eco-sensitive zone of the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the rare Hollock Gibbon and wild Asiatic elephants.

However, sources in the Assam Government’s conservation circles have told Northeast Live that the stretch where Cairn oil and gas is going to begin drilling operations is 13 kms away from the 21 square kilometre Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. Therefore, these officials said there is no cause for worry for the welfare of the rare Gibbons and other animals in the Sanctuary.

Besides, the oil exploration stretch is part of the 59,080 hectares of Assam land where encroachers have set their eyes on.

The Dessoi Reserve Forest is a group of forests that includes Dessoi Valley, Dessoi, Tiru Hills and Geleki, located along the Assam-Nagaland border.

Incidentally, the Assam government is locating a police commando battalion in Geleki for the protection of these forests in the border areas where miscreants at times resort even to firing.

Meanwhile, reports said, Assam Wildlife Chief Warden, Sandeep Kumar has given a no objection to Cairn Oil & Gas to start operation in the area but has set 4 pre-conditions that includes a deposit of 2% of the total project cost to the Assam Wildlife authorities.

Besides, Sandeep Kumar has said there should be minimal felling of trees and adequate measures must be in place to prevent pollution, including measures to prevent oil and gas leakage and possible explosions in the well.

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