Assam silent on illegal construction in Kaziranga wildlife corridors

The Central Empowered Committee, constituted by the Supreme Court to monitor environmental compliance, issued a directive to the Assam Chief Secretary in March 2022 seeking immediate details on violations across nine wildlife corridors designated around the iconic national park in eastern India.

The request sought a comprehensive list of construction and development activities undertaken in each corridor, flagging potential breaches of the court's original order dated April 12, 2019. These corridors are critical infrastructure for the movement and survival of wildlife populations, particularly the endangered Indian rhinoceros that inhabits Kaziranga.

The absence of a formal response from state authorities represents a significant gap in regulatory compliance and oversight. Wildlife experts and conservation groups have expressed concern that unmonitored development in these passages could fragment habitats and disrupt migration patterns essential for biodiversity protection.

The Supreme Court's 2019 directive was issued following mounting evidence of encroachment and unauthorised construction threatening the ecological integrity of the region. The corridors serve as vital links between protected areas and surrounding forests, enabling animal populations to access resources and maintain genetic diversity.

The continued silence from state administration underscores ongoing challenges in enforcing environmental protections at the ground level, despite judicial intervention at the highest court level. The matter remains unresolved as of the latest available reports.