Guwahati: The Assam government has decided to withdraw its proposal for an integrated Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) encompassing approximately 3,600 square kilometers around the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (KNP&TR) and seven other adjoining Protected Areas.
The decision, communicated to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, comes in light of significant concerns regarding unsettled boundaries, the rights of local communities, and the potential for widespread socio-economic disruption.
The proposal, earlier submitted by the Forest Department, includes eight Protected Areas (PAs), namely Kaziranga National Park along with its 10 additions, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary including its 1st addition, NamborDoigrung Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Proposed North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary. This integrated ESZ encompasses nearly 340 villages spread across five districts.
In a letter to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Assam Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota stated, “lt is important to highlight that several additions to KNP&TR are still in the proposed stage, with boundaries yet to be finalized and some pending since 1985. Moreover, the rights of the local communities residing in these areas including all the above eight PAs remain unsettled.”
“The proposed ESZ directly impacts around 5 lakh people, including a significant population of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and economically weaker sections. Many depend on agriculture, tea estates (covering over 8000 hectares and employing more than 25,000 workers), and other rural livelihoods,” Kota said.
The area also contains centuries-old villages and critical public infrastructure, such as schools, colleges, hospitals, drinking water and irrigation facilities, rural markets, industries including operating services of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, and national highways (NH-37 and NH-39), the letter stated.
He further added, “Implementing such a vast, integrated ESZ without resolving these fundamental boundary and community issues would severely obstruct development, lead to population displacement, and create long-term socio-economic distress for already vulnerable communities.”
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The state government has requested the Union Ministry to treat the earlier integrated ESZ proposal as withdrawn, emphasizing that this decision is in the larger interest of the people and the region’s sustainable development.
