A government committee approved oil and gas exploration near the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam India. This sanctuary is a protected area known for its biodiversity and is home to the endangered Hoolock Gibbon. The company Cairn Oil & Gas will be allowed to explore after submitting a request. This decision means they can look for oil and gas within the sanctuary’s sensitive zone.
Assam’s wildlife officials had suggested this proposal should move forward before the committee gave the final go ahead. The committee considered how the exploration might affect the environment. They decided to allow the exploration but didn’t say how exactly they would protect the environment from any harm. The main reason for the approval seems to be the possible economic benefits of finding oil and gas in the area.
This exploration will need things like roads and drilling equipment. All these things could cause problems for the wildlife and their homes. The committee made this decision balancing the idea of helping the economy and protecting the environment. It shows how hard it can be to decide between those two things in India when dealing with natural areas.