Wildlife board defers nod for Vedanta's oil exploration in Assam

• The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), the country’s apex body on wildlife conservation, has deferred its nod to a Vedanta subsidiary’s proposal for oil exploration in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary.

Highlights:

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has deferred approval for a Vedanta subsidiary's proposal to explore oil in Assam's Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, home to the endangered Hoolock Gibbon.

Key Decisions by the NBWL

Oil Exploration Proposal:

• The NBWL, chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, decided to postpone the oil exploration proposal pending a site visit.
• Despite the proposal being in an eco-sensitive zone away from the sanctuary, concerns for the Hoolock Gibbon's habitat prompted the deferral.

Electrification Project Approval:

• The committee approved a plan to electrify a section of a 100-year-old railway line running through the sanctuary, conditional on the construction of animal passages to ensure wildlife safety.

Road Widening in Tiger Reserve:

• The NBWL also cleared a road widening project through the buffer zone of the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, also subject to conditions regarding animal passage construction.

Hoolock Gibbon Conservation:

• The Hoolock Gibbon is India’s only ape species, with an estimated population of 120-130 individuals in the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary and nearby areas.
• The NBWL emphasized the need for wildlife protection during its deliberations.

Site Inspection Committee:

• A site inspection committee will be formed, including representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife Institute of India, Assam forest department, and a wildlife scientist.
• Previous Permissions
• Last month, the forest advisory committee had granted preliminary permissions for oil exploration in the Hoolock Gibbon habitat, citing national interest as the basis for the state forest department's recommendation.

Railway Electrification Details:

• Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON) proposed a 25 KV electrification of a 9-km stretch that includes a 1.65 km section fragmenting the Gibbon sanctuary.
• The NBWL mandated that train speeds must be limited as per state forest department recommendations and that animal passage plans must be implemented before electrification.

Recommendations for Wildlife Passages:

• A report from the Wildlife Institute of India suggested constructing artificial and natural canopy bridges to facilitate the safe crossing of Gibbons over the railway track.
• The NBWL has instructed that electric wires should not be energized until these wildlife passages are completed.

Road Widening Project in Rajasthan:

• The road widening plan involves acquiring 28.8 hectares of forest land in Bundi district, Rajasthan, specifically for National Highway-12.
• A site inspection committee recommended the project with the condition to construct animal underpasses at specified locations to accommodate wildlife movement.
• Underpass Requirements
• For every kilometre of road through forest areas, an underpass must be built, including a minimum span of 30 meters for effective animal crossing.

Prelims Takeaways:

• National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
• Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON)