Assam: Gauhati HC adjourns Kaziranga eco-sensitive zone PIL pending Supreme Court ruling

Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Thursday adjourned a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the declaration of an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in Assam.

The court's decision came in light of the ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court on the same matter.

The PIL (No 47/2024), filed by senior journalist Rajeev Bhattacharyya, highlighted the urgent need for an ESZ to protect the fragile ecosystem of Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The petitioners argued that despite repeated directives from the Supreme Court, the Assam government has failed to take concrete steps to notify the ESZ.

However, during the hearing, the Assam Government's counsel argued that the matter was already under consideration by the Supreme Court, and various orders had been issued to the State.

Therefore, the counsel argued that the High Court case be kept pending until a final order was passed by the apex court.

After considering both sides, High Court Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi agreed to postpone the hearing of the PIL until the Supreme Court issued a definitive ruling on the ESZ issue.

The court emphasized that once the Supreme Court's decision was made, the petitioners could re-list their case for further proceedings.

The ESZ is crucial to safeguarding the park's biodiversity and preventing encroachment from nearby human settlements.

Bhattacharyya's petition highlights the long-standing neglect of the park's well-being.

Despite a central government decision in 2002 to establish ESZs around all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and a Supreme Court order in 2006 mandating state governments to implement them, Assam has repeatedly failed to act.

Bhattacharyya's petition expresses concern about the "massive mushrooming of resorts" and illegal structures within these corridors, further squeezing the vital space for wildlife movement.

Secondly, the petition emphasizes the ongoing issue of illegal mining in the nearby Karbi Anglong district. Despite Supreme Court orders in 2013 and 2019 to halt such activities, mining continues, further jeopardizing the park's habitat.

The PIL also demands a court-monitored investigation or a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry to unravel the reasons behind the delayed ESZ notification, and the immediate removal of all illegal structures within notified animal corridors.