Guwahati: Raising serious environmental concerns in the Lok Sabha, Jorhat MP and Deputy Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Gaurav Gogoi, questioned the government’s stance on the Vedanta-Cairn oil exploration project in Assam’s Holongapar Gibbon Sanctuary.
During Question Hour, Gogoi highlighted discrepancies in the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notifications. He pointed out that while oil and gas exploration was explicitly prohibited in the 2018 Draft Notification, this restriction was removed in the Final Notification of 2019, despite no public objections.
Gogoi alleged that Vedanta Ltd. is pushing for full-fledged oil production under the guise of exploration, citing its plans for Early Production Units (EPUs) and Quick Production Units (QPUs). He stressed that oil and gas extraction falls under the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Red Category List, which bans such activities in ecologically sensitive areas.
The MP demanded clarification on how the project received wildlife clearance, calling it a threat to Assam’s fragile biodiversity. Referring to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, Gogoi raised alarm over Assam’s 86.66 sq km forest cover loss between 2021 and 2023.
Gogoi pointed out that illegal coal mining in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao has contributed significantly to deforestation and called for a central investigation into the role of District Forest Officers. In response, the government acknowledged the forest loss and assured a thorough probe into illegal coal mining.
However, Gogoi reiterated the need for strict environmental oversight and urged the government to halt the Vedanta project to protect Assam’s forests and wildlife.
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