Why Assam wants to shrink Kaziranga National Park's eco-sensitive zone - explained

Kaziranga National Park, a cherished natural habitat in Assam, India, is facing a proposal to reduce its eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) from 10 kilometers to a site-specific range between 1 and 3 kilometers. The Assam government argues that this change would facilitate development, such as construction of a stadium and other civic infrastructure, while maintaining protection for the park.

However, this proposal has sparked debate among conservationists and local communities who fear that a narrower ESZ could weaken safeguards around the ecosystem.