Assam CM maintains 10-km buffer around Kaziranga National Park

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified that the existing 10-kilometre Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park will remain in effect until the state government issues a formal notification. This statement follows a Supreme Court reference to a one-kilometre ESZ, which the Chief Minister noted should not be interpreted as an immediate reduction of the current buffer.

Sarma emphasized that the final distance will be determined through official state notification. He highlighted that maintaining a wider 10-kilometre zone is necessary to avoid undue economic and residential difficulties for populations in areas such as Kaliabor, Dabhaka, Jakhalabandha, and Bokakhat.

The debate centers on balancing ecological protection with regional development. Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is critical for the survival of the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses and various other species. Conservationists argue that the ESZ is vital for protecting wildlife corridors and floodplains that extend beyond the park's administrative boundaries, particularly during annual floods.