The party says a narrower ESZ could endanger wildlife and biodiversity around the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Guwahati: The Assam Congress will organise a statewide march on August 29 opposing the proposed reduction of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park.
State Congress general secretary (organisation) Ramanna Baruah has directed district Congress committees to organise the protest and mobilise party leaders and workers.
The party has warned that reducing the protected buffer could threaten wildlife, biodiversity and the ecosystem surrounding Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Assam government has proposed reducing the ESZ from the default 10 km to between 1 km and 3 km and plans to send the proposal to the Centre.
Opposition parties and environmental activists have raised concerns that a narrower buffer could encourage mining and tourism activities around Kaziranga and the neighbouring Karbi Anglong hills, an important elephant corridor. Environmentalists have also warned that reduced protection could increase human-animal conflict and put the region’s biodiversity at greater risk.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has defended the proposal, arguing that the move is aimed at protecting villagers living within the ESZ and safeguarding their livelihoods.
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