Now Reading: Assam seeks to cut Kaziranga eco-sensitive zone from 10 km to 1 km
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Assam seeks to cut Kaziranga eco-sensitive zone from 10 km to 1 km
The Assam government will approach the Centre within two months to reduce the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park from the default 10 km to just 1 km. Chief Minister Himanta…
The Story in Brief
The Assam government will approach the Centre within two months to reduce the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park from the default 10 km to just 1 km. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma cited this as necessary to unblock infrastructure projects, including a stadium and other works in Bokakhat town. The move follows the June 2025 cancellation of a preliminary notification for a 2,570-hectare addition to the park, which conservationists say was vital for wildlife connectivity. The Gauhati High Court noted in March that no final or draft ESZ notification had been submitted to the Centre.
The Indian Opinion
This proposal pits economic ambition against environmental caution. The government frames the 10-km default zone as a hindrance to stadiums and civic works, but conservationists see a slippery slope that could fragment critical wildlife corridors. A one-size-fits-all narrative of 'development versus tigers' ignores that the real test is whether the state can first produce a scientifically rigorous ESZ map. The watchpoint is the final notification: if it shrinks the buffer without compensatory safeguards, the 2,570-hectare de-notification of June 2025 will be the precedent, not an isolated case.
Source: assamtribune.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
