The Centre's wildlife panel has approved a proposal to conduct oil and gas exploration in the eco-sensitive zone of the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Assam's Jorhat district. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, gave its approval for the proposal put forward by Vedanta Group's Cairn Oil & Gas during a meeting on December 21, as recorded in the meeting minutes. Last August, Assam's principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden had recommended the project clearance, citing national interest. The Forest Advisory Committee of the Union Environment Ministry had granted in-principle approval during its meeting on August 27 of the previous year. The NBWL minutes revealed that a team comprising officials from the Union Environment Ministry, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the Assam Forest Department conducted an inspection of the project site, which is located about 13 km from the sanctuary, on November 15. The inspection team concluded that exploratory drilling would cause minimal damage, but commercial drilling was not deemed permissible. Vedanta Group assured in writing that no commercial drilling would take place at the site. A senior official in the ministry explained that exploratory drilling is a critical step in hydrocarbon extraction, which could potentially lead to commercial drilling. Another official stated that the inspection report recommended that no oil or gas extraction take place within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), even if reserves were discovered. The officials also shared that Vedanta Group had committed to ensuring that exploration at the site would be limited to identifying hydrocarbon reserves. If reserves were discovered, any extraction would take place from outside the ESZ. Additionally, the company assured that no hazardous substances would be used during the exploration process. It was noted that the project site lies in a disputed area on the Assam-Nagaland border. During the inspection, the team had to cross a Nagaland check post and was received by the Border Magistrate of Nagaland along with local Naga residents. The local communities informed the team that drilling operations could not proceed without permission from the Village Council and the Nagaland government. The Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary covers 20.98 sq km, while its ESZ spans 264.92 sq km. This large ESZ ensures connectivity between the sanctuary, the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, and the forested areas of Nagaland, which is vital for the survival of the seven primate species inhabiting the area. Officials highlighted that the sanctuary is already facing stress due to human activities, with a railway line passing through the sanctuary set to be electrified, a proposal that had been recommended by the Standing Committee.