Assam Government Proposes Reducing Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone to 1 km

The Government of Assam plans to request the central government to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve from the default 10 km to a minimum of 1 km. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the proposal, arguing that a 10-km zone would severely impact residents and infrastructure in settlements like Bokakhat and Kaliabor. He asserted that the move aligns with Supreme Court directions and that the park's core area remains unchanged.

The proposal has triggered intense opposition from the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI). Led by state party president Gaurav Gogoi, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee staged a protest in Kohora, alleging the reduction is a conspiracy to facilitate commercial tourism and corporate mining by groups such as Adani and Ambani in the Karbi Anglong hills. Gogoi further accused the ruling government of patronizing illegal mining and encroaching on elephant corridors.

CPI Assam State Council Secretary Kanak Gogoi joined the opposition, arguing that shrinking the buffer zone threatens critical wetlands and floodplains while increasing human-animal conflict. The Congress party has demanded the withdrawal of the proposal and the release of activist Pranab Doley, who was arrested under the National Security Act for opposing land acquisition for a hotel near the park.