Politics · India Bureau
Supreme Court Panel Rebukes Assam Over Kaziranga Mining Inaction
A Supreme Court-appointed committee has expressed concern over the Assam government's failure to take action against illegal mining operations near the Kaziranga National Park. The rebuke comes as the state government pursues plans to reduce the protected area's Eco-Sensitive Zone.
LSN India ·
A panel constituted by the Supreme Court has criticized the Assam government for its inaction in curbing mining activities in proximity to Kaziranga National Park, the renowned one-horned rhino sanctuary in upper Assam. The committee's observations underscore mounting pressure on state authorities to enforce environmental regulations more rigorously in the region.
The development assumes significance following Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's announcement to reduce the national park's Eco-Sensitive Zone from the standard 10-kilometre buffer area. The decision had drawn environmental concerns as the buffer zone serves as a critical protective barrier for the sanctuary's flora and fauna.
Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world's largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses, has faced repeated threats from mining and other developmental activities. The Supreme Court committee's intervention reflects ongoing judicial scrutiny of conservation practices in the region.
The rebuke to the state government signals that authorities must balance developmental aspirations with environmental protection obligations. Officials will face increased pressure to demonstrate concrete steps in controlling illegal mining operations that threaten the ecological integrity of the national park and its surroundings.