Dibru Saikhowa National Park

Dibru Saikhowa National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve situated in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra in the extreme east of Assam state in India.  Dibru Saikhowa, with an area of 340 sq km, is among the most vibrant wildness on earth and is also distinct for its pristine scenic beauty. it is Situated in the flood plain of Brahmaputra, Dibru-saikhowa is a safe haven for many extremely rare and endangered species of Wildlife.

• The forest type of Dibru-Saikhowa comprises of semi-evergreen forests, deciduous forests, littoral and swamp forests and patches of wet evergreen forests.
• Famed for Ferral horses, a total 36 species of mammals and above 400 species of birds have so far been recorded from the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
• Fauna : 36 species of mammals have so far been recorded – Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Bears, Small Indian Civet, Squirrels, Gangetic Dolphin, Slow Loris, Assamese Macague, Rhesus Macaque, Capped Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Water Buffalo, Feral Horses etc.
• Avifauna : It is an identified Important Bird Area (IBA) having more than 382 species of Birds, some of which are Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Greater Crested Grebe. Large Cormorant, Open bill Stork, Black necked Stork, Large Whistling Teal. Grey leg Goose, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Osprey, Crested Serpent Eagle, Spot Billed Pelican, White Winged Wood Duck, Baer’s Pochard, Greater Spotted Eagle, Pale Capped Pigeon, Great Pied Hornbill, Marsh Babbler, Jerdon’s Babbler, Black Breasted Parrot bill, etc. 
• The Park is renowned for natural regeneration of Salix trees.

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Concerns Dibru Saikhowa National Park :

• Oil India Limited NSE 0.27 % (OIL) stated it will reach the target depth of around 3.5 Kilometres beneath the surface of the National Park without carrying out any drilling activity inside the national park.
• OIL reiterated that no disturbance to the environment and Dibru-Saikhowa national park is envisaged due to use of latest technology.
• In a statement the company stated the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has accorded environmental clearance for extension drilling & testing of Hydrocarbons at seven locations under Dibru-Saikhowa National Park Area, North West of Baghjan PML in District Tinsukia in the state of Assam to Oil India Limited. 
• This information as per statutory requirement was published as advertisement for information of all concerned stakeholders.
• The company said it has been observed certain section of the stakeholders have expressed their concern assuming that OIL will be operating inside the national park.
• In order to tap the hydrocarbon resources underneath the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, OIL had approached statutory bodies for obtaining necessary permissions in the year 2016 on the basis of the Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) technology, which will enable OIL to drill for hydrocarbon without drilling inside the national park.
• The company said that OIL went through an elaborate process for obtaining the necessary approvals from statutory bodies like MoEF&CC after fulfilling the stringent guidelines and adhering to various compliance and establishing the fact that OIL will not enter the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park Area.
• “OIL will be able to accomplish this task of exploring hydrocarbon reserves under the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park by use of the Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) technology.
• ERD techniques are extensively used to intersect hydrocarbon targets far from the surface or areas of the reservoir which otherwise are difficult to access.
• By using this technology wells can be drilled up to a depth of approx. 4 kilometers from the existing well plinth without entering the protected area. 
• Through ERD technology, OIL will reach the target depth of around 3.5 Kms beneath the surface of the National Park without carrying out any drilling activity inside the national park.”
• The company further stated this is a state of the art technology where Drilling will take place around at an average more than 1.5 kilometers outside the demarcated area of the national park where OIL already is carrying out hydrocarbon exploration for last fifteen years (Baghjan area).
• “If commercial viability of hydrocarbon production is established, then the production of oil & gas will help in meeting the energy needs of the country and will also lead to socio-economic development of the area and its vicinity. 
• The commercial production from this area shall enable OIL to meet the vision of our Prime Minister towards 10% reduction in imports and also fulfilling North East Vision 2030,” .