Assam submits Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone draft proposal

The Assam government has submitted a draft proposal to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to establish an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The proposal follows a site-specific assessment considering ecological and environmental parameters.

The move comes amid a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Gauhati High Court, which challenged a reported plan to reduce the existing 10-km protective regime to between 1 km and 3 km in certain locations. In an affidavit, the state government argued that judicial intervention is premature, as the statutory process—including expert committee reviews, stakeholder consultations, and public hearings—has yet to be completed. The government stated it will remain bound by existing Supreme Court directions until a final notification and delineation of the ESZ are issued.