Four years after Supreme Court-formed panel’s nudge, Assam mum on construction in Kaziranga animal corridors

The protection of wildlife corridors and Eco-Sensitive Zones is fundamental to ensuring long-term species survival and genetic diversity, preventing habitat fragmentation. An Eco-Sensitive Zone acts as a "shock absorber" around Protected Areas, mitigating the impact of human activities on fragile ecosystems. The default ESZ is 10km, as per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change guidelines, though states can propose specific boundaries. The controversy surrounding Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to two-thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceroses—highlights the tension between conservation and development. The Assam government's push for a reduced ESZ (1km to 3km) raises concerns about increased vulnerability to illegal sand mining and construction, particularly affecting critical corridors linking Kaziranga to the Karbi Anglong hills, which are essential for animal migration during the annual Brahmaputra floods.

This case underscores a systemic issue of executive apathy and non-compliance with judicial directives. The Supreme Court of India, utilizing its powers under Article 32 and Article 142 (power to pass orders for complete justice), frequently intervenes in environmental matters, often relying on bodies like the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for fact-finding and enforcement monitoring. The state government's failure to provide information on construction and action taken against illegal activities within the ESZ, despite repeated reminders, reflects a breakdown in accountability and transparency. Furthermore, the use of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI) by an activist to expose this lack of compliance highlights the crucial role of civil society in environmental governance. The state's refusal to provide information citing sub judice matters (under judicial consideration) is often misused to evade scrutiny, raising questions about the effectiveness of RTI mechanisms when state machinery is uncooperative.

The geography of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is central to understanding its ecological challenges. Situated on the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, the park's ecology is deeply intertwined with the annual flood cycle, which revitalizes its wetlands (beels) and grasslands. However, during high floods, animals are forced to migrate southwards to higher ground in the Karbi Anglong hills. The nine identified animal corridors are vital pathways facilitating this movement. Illegal construction, stone quarrying, and sand mining (such as in the Deihori River) within the ESZ disrupt these corridors and the delicate hydrology of the park's wetlands. This habitat fragmentation not only isolates wildlife populations but also increases the risk of human-wildlife conflict as animals are forced to traverse human-dominated landscapes during their seasonal migrations.