Kaziranga eco-sensitive zone to be cut from 10km to 1km as per SC guidelines: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that the state government plans to halve the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) surrounding Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) from 10 km to just 1 km, aligning with Supreme Court guidelines. The CM explained that the original ESZ of 10 km was "by default," and the proposal to reduce it to 1 km would be submitted to the Centre within two months.

This reduction would facilitate development projects, including the construction of a stadium in the region. Sarma emphasized that the SC had previously stated that the ESZ should be 1 km, but the state government's notification would lower the limit to 1 km. He also noted that extending the ESZ to 10 km would make towns like Kaliabar, Doboka, Jakhalabandha, and Bokakhat uninhabitable.

Wildlife activists and conservationists, however, strongly oppose the proposal, citing potential harm to the park's wildlife and animals' ability to migrate during floods. Jadav Payeng, a renowned wildlife conservationist, expressed concern that the reduced ESZ would hinder the animals' ability to move freely, while Bibhab Talukdar, secretary general of Aaranyak, stressed the importance of maintaining the ESZ for long-term conservation.