Assam Congress Plans Foot March Across State This August 29 Over Kaziranga Eco Sensitive Zone Plan

The Assam Congress has directed its district units to organize a foot march on August 29 against the state government's proposal to shrink the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park.

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.

What this means for you
The political battle over Kaziranga's Eco-Sensitive Zone directly impacts environmental preservation, tourism regulation, and local community livelihoods across Northeast India.

• National Impact: This dispute highlights the delicate balance between wildlife protection and local development in UNESCO heritage sites. The final decision by the Central government could set a precedent for buffer zone regulations across protected forests in India.
• In Assam: Residents living within 10 km of Kaziranga may see major changes in land use rules and construction permissions. If the buffer is reduced to 1-3 km, local villagers could face fewer commercial restrictions on their property.
• Wildlife and Environment Impact: Shrinking the protected buffer threatens key ecological migration paths near Karbi Anglong. Conservationists warn it could lead to increased human-wildlife encounters and ecological disruption.
• Tourism and Business Impact: Local eco-tourism operators and resort developers may gain expanded commercial opportunities outside the narrowed boundary. However, unbridled commercialization could damage the natural ecosystem that attracts tourists.

Questions & Answers

1. What protest has the Assam Congress announced for August 29?
The Assam Congress has called a statewide foot march (padayatra) on August 29 to protest against the proposed reduction of the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park.

2. What is the proposed change to Kaziranga's Eco-Sensitive Zone?
The Assam government proposes asking the Centre to reduce the buffer zone around Kaziranga from the default 10 km to between 1 km and 3 km.

3. Why are environmentalists and opposition parties opposed to reducing the buffer zone?
Critics warn that shrinking the zone could endanger wildlife, open land for mining and tourism near the Karbi Anglong elephant corridor, and increase human-animal conflicts.

4. How has Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the government's proposal?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the proposal aims to protect the rights, interests, and livelihoods of villagers residing within the current buffer boundaries.

5. Who issued the directive for the Congress protest march?
State Congress general secretary (organisation) Ramanna Baruah issued a circular directing district Congress committee presidents to mobilize leaders and workers for the march.

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