As the Assam government plans to notify a site-specific eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), an ecologically fragile area, around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve extending one to three kilometres from the existing boundary, public debate has intensified in both the mainstream and social media. Although the initiative complies with directives from the Supreme Court of India, the issue has drawn wider public attention following protest demonstrations by opposition parties and wildlife experts.
So far, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in eastern Assam has no notified ESZ boundary, so the default 10-km buffer applies to this celebrated biodiversity hotspot. Kaziranga, a globally renowned wildlife reserve, is home to over 2,610 greater one-horned rhinoceroses, nearly 70% of the species’ global population. Comprising wetlands, grasslands, and semi-evergreen forests, Kaziranga’s ecosystem is regularly shaped by the annual floodwaters of the mighty Brahmaputra River.
The debate gained momentum after Dispur announced plans to approach the Union government to reduce the Kaziranga ESZ buffer to a minimum of one kilometre. The mandatory buffer zone around protected areas usually restricts major construction, urban expansion and mining activities, as such interventions may worsen human-wildlife conflicts.
On some occasions, wildlife may cross the park boundary and enter the buffer zone. This is particularly relevant in the case of Kaziranga, which has neither fencing nor a concrete boundary. During monsoon floods, animals frequently cross National Highway-715, formerly NH-37, to reach the Karbi Anglong hills.
Opposition parties, along with many environment enthusiasts, have strongly reacted to the government’s proposal to reduce the coverage area from the default 10-km limit, arguing that it could jeopardise wildlife protection. Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi, while opposing the ESZ proposal, argued that a reduced buffer zone would deprive wildlife of necessary protection. Leaders of the Communist Party of India have also opposed the move to reduce the Kaziranga ESZ and demanded its withdrawal.
However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly defended the proposal to redraw the ESZ boundary around Kaziranga, asserting that the government’s move complies with the directives of the apex court. Sarma said the Supreme Court guidelines specify that the ESZ should be at least one kilometre from the boundary and may extend to three kilometres depending on local circumstances. He also said no forest reserve in the world maintains a surrounding ESZ extending 10 kilometres.
Sarma argued that an ESZ does not mean “no tourism infrastructure” but provides a framework to regulate activities such as mining, chemical industries and other polluting activities that could harm the ecological integrity of a protected area. He reiterated that Kaziranga continues to have a 10-km buffer until the government officially notifies the ESZ limit.
Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party state president Dilip Saikia and state minister Pijush Hazarika assured that notification of the ESZ limit would not dilute environmental protection measures around Kaziranga. Criticising Congress leaders for opposing the move, they pointed out that more than 235 rhinos were killed during the tenure of then state forest minister Rakibul Hussain. They accused the opposition of politicising the Kaziranga ESZ issue for possible electoral gains.
Many local residents have also come out in support of the proposal for a site-specific buffer zone. They have pointed out that villages surrounding Kaziranga often face development challenges that limit livelihood opportunities. Through several demonstrations in support of reducing the ESZ limit, local residents have argued that development and conservation should not clash but should coexist.
The latest demonstration, held at Biswanath Ghat on August 21, saw thousands gather in support of a reduced ESZ around Kaziranga. The protesters argued that conservation measures should not undermine the livelihoods of local communities. They also called for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment while implementing the new ESZ perimeter.
For any policy decision, they insisted, surrounding communities should be treated as important stakeholders, as they have long played a significant role in protecting Kaziranga’s wildlife.
The debate over Kaziranga’s ESZ therefore extends beyond the question of a numerical buffer. It raises a larger question about how conservation, local livelihoods and development can be balanced around one of India’s most important wildlife habitats. Any new boundary should ideally protect the ecological integrity of Kaziranga while also recognising the legitimate concerns of communities living around the protected area.