Guwahati, August 20: Assam Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Pijush Hazarika has accused critics of the state government’s proposed 1-3 km Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park of changing their position for political reasons, citing protests in 2015 that had demanded withdrawal of the ESZ proposal.
In a post on X, Hazarika said the government was proposing a scientifically assessed, site-specific ESZ of around 1-3 km instead of applying a blanket 10-km zone. He referred to protests held in 2015, when the Congress was in power in Assam, against the proposed ESZ.
Hazarika said organisations including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), All Assam Students’ Union and other local groups had opposed the proposal during protests and public hearings that year. He also referred to Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi, who was then KMSS president, as having participated in the protests.
He alleged that the positions of some political groups and leaders had changed after the BJP came to power, arguing that the current opposition to a 1-3 km ESZ was inconsistent with the demand to withdraw the proposal altogether in 2015.
Hazarika maintained that Kaziranga’s forests, wildlife corridors and biodiversity must receive strong scientific and legal protection, while arguing that conservation should not come at the cost of local livelihoods.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the proposed changes would not alter the boundary of Kaziranga National Park. He has argued that the default 10-km ESZ lies outside the park and that rationalisation was being considered in response to concerns from local communities.
