Guwahati, August 18: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized the Congress party on Monday for opposing the proposal to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park. He argued that maintaining a uniform 10-kilometer zone would adversely affect local residents and businesses.
Sarma stated that the ESZ, currently extending 10 kilometers by default, will be reduced to between 1 to 3 kilometers as per Supreme Court directives.
He questioned, “How can people live if the Eco-Sensitive Zone from Bokakhat to Kaliabor is set at 10 kilometers?”
The residents of Bokakhat and Kaliabor have approached the Supreme Court regarding this issue, expressing long-standing concerns about restrictions impacting residential areas, livelihoods, and commercial establishments.
He emphasized that this debate should be viewed from the perspective of the people living around Kaziranga, rather than as a political issue.
Targeting Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Sarma urged those opposing the proposed changes to understand the ground realities and concerns of the residents.
He clarified that the Supreme Court’s directives do not mandate a uniform 10-kilometer ESZ for every protected area, and the proposed boundaries around Kaziranga will be determined according to the court’s guidelines.
The Chief Minister warned that maintaining a 10-kilometer ESZ could impact large economic establishments and infrastructure surrounding the park. He specifically mentioned the potential effects on the communities of Bokakhat and Kaliabor.
Sarma stated, “If the Eco-Sensitive Zone is set at 10 kilometers, the people of Kaliabor and Bokakhat will also be displaced.”
He reiterated that the government’s stance is to balance environmental protection with the rights and livelihoods of communities living near Kaziranga. The proposed reduction aims to ensure that conservation measures do not impose excessive restrictions on residents and economic activities that have developed around the national park.
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