Hundreds protest in Kaliabor backing Assam’s proposal to reduce Kaziranga’s Eco-Sensitive Zone to one kilometre, opposing calls for a 10-km buffer and highlighting concerns over livelihoods, settlements, businesses and local economic activities while supporting wildlife conservation and community interests around Kaziranga National Park.
Hundreds of residents living around Kaziranga National Park took to the streets in Kaliabor on Tuesday, extending support to the Assam government’s proposal to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the national park from the default 10-kilometre limit to one kilometre in the proposed areas.
The protesters organised a march from Kuthari to Bagori, carrying placards and raising slogans against Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi over their reported opposition to the proposed reduction of the ESZ. The demonstration reflected growing concern among local communities about the possible impact of a wider protected buffer zone on settlements and economic activities around Kaziranga.
The protest came amid an intensifying political debate over the proposed extent of the ESZ surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kaziranga National Park. Gaurav Gogoi has reportedly argued that the protected zone should extend up to 10 kilometres from the national park, a position that has drawn opposition from residents and several local groups.
Protesters said imposing a blanket 10-kilometre ESZ could adversely affect thousands of people living in villages and settlements surrounding Kaziranga. According to them, wider restrictions could have implications for homes, businesses, livelihoods and other economic activities that have existed in the region for decades.
Members of the Karbi Students’ Association and residents from Karbi Anglong also joined the demonstration, expressing support for a one-kilometre ESZ. Their participation added a broader regional dimension to the protest, with local communities stressing that their concerns should be considered alongside the need to protect Kaziranga’s wildlife and biodiversity.
As part of the demonstration, some protesters also staged a semi-nude protest to register their opposition to demands for extending the ESZ to 10 kilometres. The unusual form of protest underlined the intensity of local opposition to what residents described as potentially restrictive environmental regulations.
The protesters maintained that conservation of Kaziranga’s rich biodiversity remains important but argued that the rights and livelihoods of communities living around the national park must not be overlooked. They said residents have lived in the vicinity of Kaziranga and carried out economic activities there for generations, making it essential for authorities to consider local realities while determining the final ESZ boundaries.
The issue has also assumed political significance in Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has criticised the Congress over its opposition to the proposed reduction of the ESZ. Sarma has argued that a blanket 10-kilometre zone stretching from Bokakhat to Kaliabor could have significant implications for settlements, businesses and major economic establishments in the region.
The Chief Minister has specifically referred to the Numaligarh Refinery as well as settlements in Bokakhat and Kaliabor while stressing that the proposed ESZ boundaries should be determined in accordance with directions issued by the Supreme Court.
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The latest demonstration in Kaliabor has therefore added fresh momentum to the ongoing debate over Kaziranga’s Eco-Sensitive Zone. While environmental protection remains central to the discussion, the protests have highlighted the demand from surrounding communities for a balance between wildlife conservation and the protection of homes, livelihoods and economic interests.
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With political parties and local groups taking different positions on the proposed ESZ limits, the issue is likely to remain a significant point of discussion in Assam as authorities work towards determining the appropriate boundaries around Kaziranga National Park.
