The Assam Congress has declared a statewide protest march on August 29 to oppose the state government's plan to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park. The party is mobilizing its cadres and leadership across all districts to stage a unified demonstration against the move.
Statewide Mobilization Directed by Party Leadership
State Congress general secretary (organisation) Ramanna Baruah issued a formal circular to all district Congress committee presidents, instructing them to organize the march and mobilize local party leaders and workers. Party leadership expressed serious concern that altering the protective buffer could jeopardize the delicate environment surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
An ESZ acts as a crucial protective buffer around designated wildlife habitats, where commercial and industrial operations are regulated, restricted, or prohibited based on environmental impact guidelines. For an ecologically vital region like Kaziranga, this buffer serves as the primary line of defense.
Environmental Risks and Ecological Concerns
The Assam government intends to request approval from the Central government to shrink the standard 10 km buffer zone surrounding Kaziranga National Park to a narrower band of 1 km to 3 km. This proposal has met with strong resistance from conservationists and political opposition groups.
Environmental activists and opposition party members argue that narrowing the buffer zone will clear the path for commercial mining and intensive tourism infrastructure near Kaziranga and the adjoining Karbi Anglong hills. This territory acts as a critical elephant movement corridor. Conservationists caution that compromising this corridor will aggravate human-wildlife encounters and threaten the park's fragile ecosystem.
Government Stand and Villagers Livelihoods
Addressing the criticism, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the proposal, stating that the intention is to safeguard the welfare, land usage, and economic livelihoods of villagers located inside the existing ESZ boundaries. The administration maintains that adjusting the zone will alleviate hardships faced by local residents.
