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Kaziranga ESZ dispute escalates into legal and civil unrest

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-23 04:56 UTC → 2026-08-31 08:30 UTC · added removed

The dispute regarding the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) surrounding Kaziranga National Park has escalated into legal challenges and civil unrest. While the Assam government previously indicated the 10-kilometer buffer would remain until a formal notification is issued, local residents and activists are now actively challenging the radius. Protesters have approached the Supreme Court to seek a reduction to between 1 and 3 kilometers, arguing the current zone restricts livelihoods and businesses in areas such as Kaliabor and Bokakhat. Tensions have further intensified due to opposition to a proposed luxury resort at Inglay Pathar. Protests against this development resulted in police action, including legal cases involving allegations of unlawful assembly, rioting, and criminal intimidation. Notably, prominent opponent Pranab Doley was arrested and subsequently detained under the National Security Act after being granted bail by a sessions court. In a significant development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced plans has indicated the state intends to propose a reduction of the ESZ from the current 10-kilometer radius to just a range of 1 kilometer. He intends to submit this proposal 3 kilometers to balance conservation with the central needs of indigenous communities and essential infrastructure. The government within two months to facilitate infrastructure maintains that high-end tourism supports economic growth and development in areas like Bokakhat. Environmental activists have criticized this move, arguing it threatens the habitat of employment. This proposal has triggered political opposition, with the one-horned rhinoceros Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) launching statewide protests. Rallies have been held in districts including Sonitpur, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Hailakandi, Karimganj, and may violate a 2022 apex court order. Recently, Chief Minister Sarma clarified Dibrugarh. Congress leaders argue that shrinking the existing 10-kilometer ESZ will remain in effect until a formal state notification is issued, noting that a Supreme Court reference to a 1-kilometer zone should not be viewed as an immediate reduction. However, threaten wildlife corridors, forests, and wetlands, potentially prioritizing commercial interests over the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned that land-use changes pose significant ecological threats. Additionally, a Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee criticized the state for failing to stop mining in security of the Karbi Anglong hills and for delays in notifying critical animal corridors. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-31 08:30 UTC Kaziranga ESZ dispute escalates into legal and civil unrest
  2. 2026-08-23 04:56 UTC Kaziranga ESZ dispute escalates into legal and civil unrest
  3. 2026-08-20 08:04 UTC Kaziranga ESZ dispute escalates into legal and civil unrest
  4. 2026-08-18 04:42 UTC Kaziranga ESZ dispute escalates into legal and civil unrest
  5. 2026-08-15 01:51 UTC Kaziranga National Park eco-sensitive zone dispute

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