The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, has expressed serious alarm regarding persistent mining operations and the incomplete execution of ecological safeguarding measures along the southern periphery of Assam's Kaziranga National Park.
Directives Ignored in Karbi Anglong Hills
In a communication dispatched on March 3, 2026, and directed to the Chief Secretary of Assam, the committee highlighted that mining activities and allied operations have persisted unabated within the Karbi Anglong hills despite explicit directives issued by the Supreme Court. This development unfolds amid an ongoing public and administrative controversy surrounding the Assam administration's contentious proposal to shrink the eco-sensitive zone situated around the sanctuary.
Failure to Present Complete Facts to Court
Furthermore, the panel raised apprehensions that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) had failed to submit a comprehensive and accurate overview of mining and related commercial pursuits in the hills before judicial authorities. According to the committee, while the matter has been brought to the attention of state administrators on numerous occasions, meaningful and adequate remedial action has notably remained absent.
Protecting Natural Drainage and Wildlife
The panel underscored that the Supreme Court's orders were fundamentally formulated to safeguard vulnerable fauna and protect the intricate natural drainage networks originating from the Karbi Anglong hills, which remain vital for sustaining the ecological equilibrium of the entire Kaziranga ecosystem. Characterising the situation as highly sensitive, the committee urged the top bureaucrat to intervene personally and execute prompt measures, warning that any ongoing defiance of judicial mandates would be directly reported back to the apex court. The communication explicitly noted that the subject requires urgent personal attention.
Mapping Delays and Unnotified Wildlife Corridors
The committee pointed out a significant administrative delay, revealing that the geographical mapping of catchment zones for streams and rivers originating in the hills remains unfinished despite a lapse of more than six years. Attention was also drawn to nine previously identified wildlife corridors that serve as critical linkages for the park. The panel noted that an earlier communication sent on May 6, 2021, seeking formal notification details regarding these passages from state authorities, yielded no official response.
Elephant Reserve Concerns and Unfulfilled Recommendations
The panel further connected extensive mining operations inside portions of the Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve to the rising frequency of lethal human-elephant conflicts and casualties among pachyderms. It remarked on the glaring absence of a robust wildlife management framework designed to mitigate harm to local fauna. Additionally, the KAAC was faulted for not enforcing necessary administrative notifications to protect the region's fragile habitat. Having submitted a comprehensive report containing actionable recommendations to the state administration on May 30, 2025, the committee has now strongly pressed the government to finalize corridor notifications and execute all pending directives without further procrastination.
