4 Years After SC Panel Nudge, Assam Yet to Act on Kaziranga Corridors
Assam government remains unresponsive on Kaziranga animal corridor construction details despite SC directives.
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The Assam government has not provided the required information on construction activities along the nine animal corridors of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, despite a Supreme Court-constituted panel’s request in March 2022. The panel had sought details on all construction within 10 km of the park’s Eco-Sensitive Zone, following a 2019 Supreme Court order banning mining and new construction in these critical wildlife corridors.
According to The Hindu, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) met Assam officials in March 2022 to discuss the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directives. The court’s order was issued after a petition highlighted illegal stone quarrying threatening Kaziranga’s ecology, and it specifically prohibited new construction on private lands within the identified corridors.
Despite reminders from the CEC in April 2022 and March 2026, the Assam government has not submitted the requested information. Correspondence revealed that the CEC’s Officer on Special Duty confirmed no information had been received from Assam, even after two formal reminders.
In response to a Right to Information (RTI) application, the Assam Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department stated that the information could not be provided as the matter is “sub judice.” The department did not clarify which case was pending, leaving the status of compliance unclear at the end of the process.
During the March 2022 meeting, the CEC had requested a list of construction activities in each corridor, photographs before and after delineation, names and designations of officers who granted permissions, and copies of licenses. The committee also sought details on enforcement actions and notifications for the removal of illegal constructions. Further requests included information on the constitution of committees for delineating corridors linking Kaziranga with the Karbi Anglong hills.
“The Assam Chief Secretary agreed to submit the information sought ‘without delay’,” the record of discussion from the CEC meeting stated.
Recent years have seen Kaziranga National Park in the spotlight, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressing support for reducing the Eco-Sensitive Zone from the default 10 km to a range of 1 km to 3 km. Coverage revealed that illegal sand mining in the Deihori River, a feeder of Kaziranga’s wetlands, has also been flagged by local activists.
While the legal and administrative processes continue, scientific studies in Kaziranga have highlighted the region’s ecological significance. Research indicated that the park supports a hidden population of greater hog badgers, a vulnerable species, underscoring the importance of maintaining undisturbed wildlife corridors.
Camera trap surveys have shown that these corridors are vital for the movement and survival of lesser-known species, not just flagship animals like rhinos and tigers. The presence of such species is considered an indicator of ecosystem health as recent findings suggest.
“Greater hog badgers are mostly found in areas where the ecosystem is still pristine. That is why they are an indicator of a good ecosystem,” said a Kaziranga forest official.
Ongoing delays in providing construction details and enforcing corridor protections may have implications for both legal compliance and conservation outcomes. Analysis showed that effective monitoring and enforcement are essential for safeguarding Kaziranga’s biodiversity and maintaining the integrity of its animal corridors.
Note: This article is produced using AI-assisted tools and is based on publicly available information. It has been reviewed by The Quint's editorial team before publishing.