Kaziranga National Park: Congress protests proposed ESZ reduction

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has launched statewide protests against a proposal by the Assam government to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) surrounding Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The proposal seeks to decrease the buffer zone from the current 10 km to a range between 1 km and 3 km.

Protests and rallies have been held in multiple districts, including Sonitpur, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Hailakandi, Karimganj, and Dibrugarh. Congress leaders argue that shrinking the ESZ will threaten wildlife corridors, forests, and wetlands, potentially prioritizing commercial interests over ecological security.

Party members have expressed concerns that the reduction could lead to unchecked mining and environmental degradation, impacting the biodiversity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Assam government intends to send this proposal to the central government for consideration.