Now Reading: Assam to seek Centre nod to slash Kaziranga buffer zone to 1 km
-
01
Assam to seek Centre nod to slash Kaziranga buffer zone to 1 km
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the state will seek central approval to reduce the Kaziranga National Park's buffer zone from 10 km to 1 km. The proposal will be sent…
The Story in Brief
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the state will seek central approval to reduce the Kaziranga National Park's buffer zone from 10 km to 1 km. The proposal will be sent to the Union government within two months for consideration and notification.
The move aims to ease restrictions on land use in areas near the park, which have faced pushback from local communities. The buffer zone currently limits activities like construction and farming.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Kaziranga's buffer zone is an unnecessary burden on villagers ignores the park's role as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The drastic cut from 10 km to 1 km risks increasing human-animal conflict, which already claims dozens of lives annually. Instead of a one-sided relief for residents, the test will be whether the proposal includes concrete measures, like elephant corridors and compensation schemes, to protect both people and wildlife. Will Assam's push prioritise short-term land freedom over long-term ecological balance?
Source: ndtv.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
