Conservationists challenge Oil India's exploration plans in Dehing Patkai

Guwahati: Conservation groups are pushing back against the government's decision to allow Oil India Limited to conduct hydrocarbon exploration in the Upper Dehing Reserve. The project, which was approved under the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, requires the diversion of nearly five hectares of land within the Digboi Forest Division.

The Kaziranga Wildlife Society warns that the site sits directly inside the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve. Often called the Amazon of the East, this region is the state's final significant stretch of tropical rainforest. The organization stated, "These damaging activities have over the years eroded vast tracts of rainforest, and allowing any further polluting industrial activities within this invaluable yet fragile ecosystem will have long-term and irreversible consequences."

Local activist Mowsam Hazarika raised concerns regarding the ecological impact of the development, which involves cutting down 135 trees in a dense, undisturbed forest. Hazarika noted that the project threatens a crucial corridor for more than 500 wild elephants. He warned that the infrastructure, including roads and drilling sites, could fragment the habitat and intensify human-wildlife conflicts.

The area supports a diverse range of wildlife, including tigers, clouded leopards, and hundreds of bird species. While authorities have suggested compensatory afforestation to offset the environmental damage, critics argue that such measures cannot replicate the complexity of a mature rainforest. Advocates are calling on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to reverse the approval to protect the region's fragile biodiversity.