- Novanita Sharma
While Assam was reeling under the ravaging flood situation, and the devastation of Sivasagar and Charaideo districts was still vivid in the collective memory of the people, a new issue cropped up in August 2026 that swept Assam by its storm. This is about the state government’s draft proposal for notifying an eco-sensitive zone around the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known worldwide as an exceptional success story for conservation of the One Horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), apart from being home to an astounding flora and fauna in the Brahmaputra valley. The national park is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in India, and is crucial for biodiversity conservation in Assam. An official communication from the government of Assam stating the draft proposal suggesting a site-specific eco-sensitive zone for the Kaziranga National Park spanning 1 km – 3km around the protected area has created a public outburst regarding the issue. The Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, found himself amid a spectacle of media content after this announcement; a campaign was staged to oppose the government move to demarcate a notified eco-sensitive zone, out of the 10 km default radius as per the rules set by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. This campaign started over social media and soon found support from the nature loving people of Assam who were driven by genuine concern for the future of Kaziranga National Park. The whole situation was nothing less than an unprecedented public hearing that intended to stop the notification for the proposed site specific eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park.
Assam has seen decades long conservation movements and campaigns since the early 1980s like the ‘Save Chakrashila Movement’, the ‘Save Chandardinga campaign’, and the ‘Rainforest Conservation Movement’, that involved a genuine outpour of support and participation from the grassroots people and the common citizens of Assam for conservation of forests and biodiversity in different parts of the state, but the public outcry in this present scenario against the government’s draft proposal for eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park has its roots in reasons far apart from the conservation of Kaziranga. It is mostly attributed to the propagandic campaign based on misleading information and faulty narratives, along with the spread of manipulated information regarding the Kaziranga landscape, which successfully incited public sentiments against the Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been alleged for making master plans of unsustainable developments in the Kaziranga landscape by shrinking the eco-sensitive zone for the national park from 10 km to 1km. It is understandable that the nature-loving people of Assam, many of whom have been part of the real grassroots-based conservation movements, were caught up in this misinformation campaign; they came out in support because of their love for Kaziranga National Park. These common people unknowingly supported a nefarious nexus that has been exploiting the natural resources of the Kaziranga landscape with their coercive ways, and has been behind this campaign against the draft eco-sensitive zone proposal.
Moreover, this campaign is based on the wrong notion that the government of Assam is trying to shrink the existing area of eco-sensitive zone of the Kaziranga National Park from the default 10 km to 1km, while the matter of fact, the default 10km eco-sensitive zone is null and void unless this area is duly notified by the government, which also means that the present Kairanga National Park has no notified eco-sensitive zone as of now because the default 10km eco-sensitive zone needs government notification to be effective. The campaign stirred for a 10km eco-sensitive zone around the national park, and accused the government of drafting a site specific 1-3km eco-sensitive zone with an intent to initiate harmful developments and mining activities in the biodiversity rich Kaziranga landscape, which also includes the adjacent hills of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous district. This campaign also spread a wrong interpretation regarding the implications of an eco-sensitive zone among the fringe villagers, which incited fear among the local people of the Kaziranga area who are apprehensive of losing their rights and freedom over their lands, property, croplands, and their establishments. As a result, the local people of Kaziranga came out protesting the 10km eco-sensitive zone demand of the campaigners. The fringe communities of the Kaziranga National Park, the villagers, farmers, and agriculturalists from the area who have been the real protectors of the Kaziranga National Park for many generations, have supported the government’s draft for a site-specific eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park, while they appealed for zero km eco-sensitive zone in the areas of human habitations.
Wildlife conservationists, environment activists, representatives of prominent wildlife conservation organisations of the region, well-known writers, and eminent civil society representatives from Assam expressed their concerns and supported the demand for a 10km eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park. Many conservationists shared their expertise to put forth the inimical threats posed by the prevalent mining, stone crushing activities, and unsustainable developments in the Karbi Anglong hills situated in the southern periphery of the national park. They have written and spoken in support of a 10km eco-sensitive zone to protect the lush forested hills of Karbi Anglong, which they fear will be destroyed if the eco-sensitive zone radius is reduced from 10km on the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park. Postulates were provided with details regarding the importance of the Karbi Anglong hill forests, which are integral for the conservation of the Kaziranga ecosystem; these discourses provided valuable suggestions for future conservation of the Kaziranga National Park, for the safety of Kaziranga’s wildlife and biodiversity, for the conservation of the long-ranging mega fauna species of Kaziranga like Asian Elephants, and so on. These expert commentaries that attracted attention from regional as well as national media expressed apprehensions about the Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma-led state government’s plans of destroying this forest area in Karbi Anglong by shrinking the eco-sensitive zone in the southern periphery of the national park from the default 10km to 1- 3 km. This campaign attained a political boiling point with prominent political leaders of opposition parties lending support to the 10km eco-sensitive zone demand, while the local people of the Kaziranga landscape have shown vehement protest against the opposition political leaders who supported the 10 Km eco-sensitive zone for the Kaziranga National Park.
Remember, the campaigners opposing the site-specific eco-sensitive zone for Kaziranga National Park are not the true custodians of the Kaziranga National Park; they are not the people who will have to deal with any eventualities in the future; they are not the people who have carried the legacy of Kaziranga conservation throughout the history of the Kaziranga forest, which became a national park in 1974. So, who has fuelled this campaign so far, and why? The perplexing situation found a clear direction when Sri. Soumyadeep Datta, well known environment activist and Director of Nature’s Beckon, came out with his unambiguous views regarding the eco-sensitive zone notification for Kaziranga National Park. He addressed the issue with crucial facts regarding the Kaziranga landscape, which has great significance for finding a judicious decision regarding the eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park, but have surprisingly been ignored from all the discussions, media content, and narratives generated so far during the campaign. He cleared the picture by stating the facts and information about the legal standing and implications of the eco-sensitive zone, while he connected everyone with the undue allegations against the BJP Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has shown exemplary political conviction in protecting natural forests, wildlife, and biodiversity in Assam. From the declaration of the Raimona National Park of 422sqkm, the declaration of the Dihing Patkai National Park of 234.26 sqkm, large tracts of forest areas been reclaimed through massive eviction of encroachments from the forest lands, the achievement of zero Rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park, the commitment to protect other natural forests in Assam under the able leadership of the Chief Minister puts questions on the integrity and sincerity of the people of Assam who doubts the intentions of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the preservation of Kaziranga National Park.
Soumyadeep Datta put forth many hidden facts regarding the Kaziranga landscape in front of the people that came as a turning point amid the public outcry over the predicament of the eco-sensitive zone notification for Kaziranga National Park. He said, “When the concept of eco-sensitive zone was developed in India, it happened with the entire country in the purview. It was not developed specifically for the Kaziranga National Park or any other protected area of Assam. Now, if we try to understand the relevance of eco-sensitive zone, we may take a look at a few national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of India like the Kutch Desert wildlife Sanctuary of 7506 sqkm, Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary of 4954 sqkm in the Rann of Kutch, Sundarban National Park of 1330 sqkm in West Bengal, Hemis National Park of 4400sqkm in Ladakh, where 10km eco-sensitive zone is logical, while in Assam, can we justify eco sensitive zone of 10km for the Bherjan Wildlife Sanctuary of 1.09 sqkm, Borajan Wildlife Sanctuary of 4.93sqkm, Padumoni of 1.20 sqkm. It is important to understand that an eco-sensitive zone can never be a fixed 10 km radius around the protected areas; it has to be site- specific, and it must be a duly notified area. In fact, eco-sensitive was never intended to be a fixed 10km radius as has been projected here in Assam. Some misleading narratives have caused the present public outcry regarding the eco-sensitive zone notification of Kaziranga National Park, which has caused distress among the nature loving people of Assam who have always supported the nature conservation movement in Assam. First, there is a notion that eco sensitive zone will restrict developmental activities among the villages, towns within its area, there is an unfound fear spreading among the local people regarding imminent problems for the villagers and the local communities due to notification of eco-sensitive zone, secondly, and one of the biggest lies in this campaign is regarding the future threats posed to the forests of Karbi Anglong located in the southern periphery of the national park. It is said that these beautiful forests of Karbi Anglong will be destroyed if the 10 km eco-sensitive zone is not maintained in the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park. Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma is openly accused of his plans to start stone mining in this area; it is said that he is doing all this to destroy these hills. Some people are saying all this with covert intentions, some are saying out of ignorance, and many have been misled to support this campaign. It is noteworthy that irrespective of whether a 10 km eco-sensitive zone is notified or not in the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park, the government cannot do any harm to these lush forests of Karbi Anglong. Stone mines in these forests are a distant dream; no government can ever touch these forests. No one has shared the vital information about these forests to mislead the people and carry the campaign based on misinformation. This entire stretch of forests in Karbi Anglong hills is protected as wildlife sanctuaries; hence, it remains preserved from any exploitation whatsoever. Many people don’t know, and many intentionally keep the people from knowing, that these forests are protected as the North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary comprising 96 sq km, and adjacent to this is the East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary of 221.81sq km; the total area of this contiguous forest of the two wildlife sanctuaries is 317.81 sq km. So, how is this forest area threatened by any developmental and mining activities? This vital information about the wildlife sanctuaries of Karbi Anglong has been hidden from our people to strengthen the demand for a 10 km eco-sensitive zone in the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park. Now, let us understand why such impetus is given to consolidate a 10 km eco-sensitive zone in the southern periphery of the national park. There are illegal stone crushing units in the periphery of Kaziranga National Park, and it is important to know that these illegal stone mines have started many years ago during the Congress regime in our state, much before Sri. Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma came to the Chief Minister’s office in Assam. These illegal stone mines are still operating due to a lack of accountability of government departments towards such illegal activities, and difficulty in enforcing the law as per the Supreme Court’s ruling to curb these illegal activities. These illegal stone mines are supported by the corrupt government machinery. Moreover, these stone mines are owned by very wealthy people, they are millionaires who have acted as smugglers and wish to continue extracting resources from this area illegally. They never want these stone mines to get legalised, because this provides them unaccountable money, for which they don’t have to pay taxes to the government. To ensure the continuation of this illegal stone mining in the Kaziranga area, these owners of stone mines are funding various people, even wildlife conservation-related foundations, societies, and organisations to raise this campaign. If the eco-sensitive zone stretches up to 10 km in the southern periphery, the villagers and local residents will not face any problems, but these smugglers of illegal stone mines will benefit the most from this decision. Since it will be impossible to keep legalised stone mines within the notified eco-sensitive zone, these operational stone mines will continue to function illegally within the corrupt system, and this racket of illegal stone quarries will continue to mint money. Moreover, this nexus is planning to cash in from the upcoming Kaziranga elevated corridor project, which has a whopping budget of 6,950 crores INR. Hence, these illegal miners are pushing their agenda through this misinformation campaign, which is driven by many who have received benefits from these illegal stone mine owners of the Kaziranga landscape.”
Soumyadeep Datta categorically stated Nature’s Beckon’s stance regarding the eco sensitive zone notification for Kaziranga National Park, speaking about the rightful zero km eco sensitive zone for the areas where villages, towns, agricultural lands are located because despite the fact that eco sensitive zone doesn’t pose any prohibitions to anthropogenic activities of the villagers and local residents, it is advisable to provide a peaceful abode to the local residents of this area who has concerns regarding foreseeable interferences and administrative bottlenecks if their inhabited areas come inside the eco sensitive zone. He said a site-specific, zig-zag eco-sensitive zone is ideal for the Kaziranga National Park, with a 0 km radius in the areas adjacent to villages and human habitations, and less than 10 km radius in the southern periphery of the national park to avoid including the existing stone mines within the notified eco-sensitive zone area.
It is noteworthy that the Nameri National Park and the Dibrusaikhowa National Park in Assam have already been notified with site-specific, zig-zag eco-sensitive zones by MOEFCC, which range between 0 – 48 Km, and 0 – 8.7 km, respectively. It is unfortunate that the campaigners for the 10 km eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park, including the wildlife conservationists, activists, and the respected civil society representatives of Assam, failed to show similar interest in providing a 10 km fixed eco-sensitive zone for these protected areas of Assam. There have been no campaigns, no public discourses for such demands so far. It is a matter for thought, for all nature lovers and forest lovers of Assam. We ought to think deeper about the real motives behind this campaign, and must always think twice before getting emotionally driven by social media content inciting public sentiments for causes related to the environment and forests in Assam. We must understand that the strong presence of public psyche regarding nature conservation, forest & wildlife conservation in Assam, which is an outcome of the four decades long grassroots-based biodiversity conservation movement in Assam, is misused by those with vested interests. The people of Assam must remain vigilant to save themselves from pseudo and misleading environment campaigns, as we have witnessed this time regarding the Kaziranga National Park, and earlier in 2020 regarding the then Dihing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. It is also important to understand the significance of able leadership, for our people, as well as for the cause of nature conservation, because without good leaders we will not achieve our goal of making Assam a first- rung state of India, both economically and ecologically. We must remain aware of the negative forces that camouflage themselves as environment crusaders while working as the biggest enemies of our forests, wildlife, and the people of Assam.
A famous saying of the Brazilian novelist and lyricist Paolo Coelho comes to my mind with the unfolding of lessons and learnings from the Kaziranga Eco Sensitive Zone episode of Assam that says, “Not all storms come to disturb your life; some come to clear your path”. I sincerely hope my beloved nature-loving folks will carry the learnings from this episode into the future and will find stronger convictions to contribute their efforts to strengthen the base of biodiversity conservation in Assam.