Assam Congress holds Statewide Padayatras against proposed Kaziranga ESZ reduction
The Assam Congress on Saturday held padayatras across the state to protest the proposed reduction of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park.
Congress leaders and workers took part in demonstrations across several districts, including Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Hailakandi, Karimganj, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat. Protesters marched through district headquarters, raising slogans against the government and demanding that the proposal to reduce the ESZ be withdrawn.
In Guwahati, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Wazed Ali Choudhury, former MP Ripun Bora, state women's wing president Mira Borthakur and other Congress leaders participated in the protest.
Police stopped the protesters from leaving the Congress office in Dispur. Party workers subsequently attempted to cross the barricades and move onto the streets.
Choudhury said the protests would continue until the government reverses its decision.
“We will not allow the BJP-led government to damage Kaziranga National Park, which is our pride. We will not relent till the decision is reversed,” he said.
Bora and Borthakur said the Congress would continue raising the issue across Assam and seek to increase public awareness. They also accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of compromising the interests of Kaziranga to benefit large corporate groups.
The controversy centres on the Assam government’s proposal to approach the Centre seeking a reduction in the ESZ around Kaziranga from the default 10-km zone to between 1 km and 3 km.
Activities within an ESZ are prohibited, regulated or permitted under prescribed rules depending on their nature.
Opposition parties and environmental activists have alleged that reducing the buffer zone could encourage commercial mining and tourism around Kaziranga and the adjoining Karbi Anglong hills, an important elephant corridor.
Environmentalists have also warned that a narrower ESZ could increase human-animal conflict and put pressure on the biodiversity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sarma has defended the proposal, saying it is intended to protect the interests and livelihoods of villagers living within the ESZ.
with inputs from PTI
