Kaziranga's Eco-Sensitive Zone Debate Focuses on 1km vs. Default 10km
The Assam government's proposal to formally notify a 1km Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park has sparked debate. However, a final 10km zone has never been officially notified, with a 1km default being legally applied.
Key takeaways
- The Assam government plans to formally notify a 1km Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park.
- A finalized 10km ESZ for Kaziranga has never been officially established.
- The 10km zone operates as a legally binding default where specific ESZ notifications are absent.
The Assam government's recent announcement to formally notify a one-kilometre Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has led to widespread discussion. This proposal contrasts with the previously understood ten-kilometre default provision for such zones.
While many discussions online and in public discourse have focused on a perceived reduction of a protective buffer by ninety percent, the situation is nuanced. The argument stems from the fact that wildlife does not adhere to the park's defined boundaries, particularly during seasonal flooding when animals move to higher ground. This movement highlights the interconnectedness of the protected area with its surrounding landscape.
What Happened
On August 8, the Assam government declared its intention to seek formal notification of a one-kilometre ESZ around Kaziranga National Park. This move has been interpreted by some as a significant reduction in the protected buffer zone.
Background
Eco-Sensitive Zones are established around protected areas to regulate activities that could negatively impact the environment. While not banning all human activities, these zones can prohibit or regulate certain actions, with mining and heavily polluting industries facing the strictest controls.
Crucially, a formal, finalized ten-kilometre ESZ notification for Kaziranga has never been officially established. The Supreme Court's June 3, 2022, judgment mandated a minimum one-kilometre ESZ for all national parks and sanctuaries. Where wider buffers were already in place or under consideration, those were to continue. The Gauhati High Court has also noted that in the absence of a final notification, the ten-kilometre radius operates as a default, legally binding buffer with ESZ restrictions applying within it.
The Assam government has stated that the proposal for the one-kilometre zone will be submitted to the central government within two months, based on scientific assessments intended to ensure the protection of wildlife corridors. The government has also indicated that the current ten-kilometre zone has previously hindered infrastructure and urban development in the Bokakhat area.
Key Facts
- The Assam government announced on August 8 its intention to formally notify a one-kilometre Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
- A finalized, ten-kilometre ESZ for Kaziranga has never been officially notified.
- The Supreme Court mandated a minimum one-kilometre ESZ around protected areas in a June 3, 2022, judgment.
- Where no specific ESZ notification exists, a ten-kilometre radius functions as a legally binding default buffer.
- The Assam government plans to submit its proposal for the one-kilometre ESZ to the Centre within two months.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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