Oil Exploration on hold due to lack of NBWL's clearance.

Oil exploration activities in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh has been kept on hold by the Centre. This was informed by the state's Geology and Mining Minister Kamlung Mossang.

He told the Assembly that the project is on hold for the want of a nod from the standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL).

Replying to a question from Congress MLA Wanglin Lowangdong, Mossang mentioned that the project was to be undertaken in the vicinity of the national park.

According to Mossang, Oil India Limited had initially submitted two clearance proposals to the state forest department and the union environment ministry in 2016 and 2017 respectively. He said though the Stage 1 clearance was accorded by the Centre in August 2020 but the second stage clearance was not given.

The minister explained, "As the Dihing-Patkai wildlife sanctuary, located 10 kms from the petroleum exploration site at Deomali, was declared a national park in June last year by the Assam Government, an NBWL clearance is also needed, the proposal for which is pending with the neighbouring state."

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry had given its approval in 1998 for granting petroleum exploration licence (PEL) to the OIL for an area of 356.18 square kms at Deomali in Tirap district.

The Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung added, “the project won’t be able to progress till the time an area around the park is marked as eco-sensitive zone.”

The Supreme Court of India has made it mandatory for every national park and wildlife sanctuary in the country to demarcate an eco-sensitive zone.

Lowangdong urged the government to pursue the matter with the Centre, stating that Arunachal could immensely benefit from the petroleum exploration project, which would not just enrich the state’ coffer but also create job opportunities for the youths, reported PTI.

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