While Assam was reeling under the ravaging floods, and the devastation in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts was still vivid in the collective memory of the people, a new issue cropped up in August 2026 that swept Assam like a storm. This was about the state government’s draft proposal for notifying an eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park.
The official communications from the Government of Assam stated that the draft proposal suggested a site-specific eco-sensitive zone for Kaziranga National Park, spanning 1 km to 3 km around the protected area. With this announcement, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma found himself amid a spectacle of media content that staged opposition to the government move to demarcate a notified eco-sensitive zone, instead of the 10-km default radius as per the rules set by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Also read: Kaziranga at crossroads: A shrinking ESZ, expanding tourism and fight over land
A campaign against this government proposal started on social media and soon found support among the nature-loving people of Assam, who were driven by genuine concern for the future of Kaziranga National Park. The whole situation was nothing less than an unprecedented public hearing intended to stop the notification of the proposed site-specific eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park.
Assam has seen decades-long conservation movements and campaigns since the early 1980s, such as the Save Chakrashila Movement, the Save Chandradinga Campaign and the Rainforest Conservation Movement, which involved a genuine outpouring of support and participation from grassroots people and common citizens of Assam for the conservation of forests and biodiversity in different parts of the state.
However, the public outcry in the present scenario against the government’s draft proposal for an eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park has its roots in reasons far apart from the conservation of Kaziranga. It is mostly attributed to a propagandistic campaign based on misleading information and faulty narratives, along with the spread of manipulated information regarding the Kaziranga landscape, which successfully incited public sentiment against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been accused of making plans for unsustainable development in the Kaziranga landscape by shrinking the eco-sensitive zone for the national park from 10 km to 1 km.
It is understandable that the nature-loving people of Assam, many of whom have been part of genuine grassroots-based conservation movements, were caught up in this misinformation campaign. They came out in support because of their love for Kaziranga National Park. These common people unknowingly supported a nefarious nexus that has been exploiting the natural resources of the Kaziranga landscape through coercive means and has allegedly been behind this campaign against the draft eco-sensitive zone proposal.
Moreover, this campaign is based on the wrong notion that the Government of Assam is trying to shrink the existing area of the eco-sensitive zone of Kaziranga National Park from the default 10 km to one km. As a matter of fact, the default 10-km eco-sensitive zone is null and void unless this area is duly notified by the government. This also means that Kaziranga National Park has no notified eco-sensitive zone as of now because the default 10-km eco-sensitive zone needs government notification to become effective.
The campaign called for a 10-km eco-sensitive zone around the national park and accused the government of drafting a site-specific 1–3-km eco-sensitive zone with the intent to initiate harmful development and mining activities in the biodiversity-rich Kaziranga landscape, including the adjacent hills of Karbi Anglong.
This campaign also spread a wrong interpretation regarding the implications of an eco-sensitive zone among fringe villagers, which incited fear among local people in the Kaziranga area, who were apprehensive about losing their rights and freedom over their lands, properties, croplands and establishments. As a result, local people in Kaziranga came out protesting against the 10-km eco-sensitive zone demand of the campaigners.
The fringe communities of Kaziranga National Park—the villagers, farmers and agriculturalists from the area who have been the real protectors of Kaziranga National Park for generations—have supported the government’s draft for a site-specific eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park, while appealing for a zero-km eco-sensitive zone in areas of human habitation.
Wildlife conservationists, environmental activists, representatives of prominent wildlife conservation organisations of the region, well-known writers and eminent civil society representatives from Assam expressed their concerns and supported the demand for a 10-km eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park.
Many conservationists shared their expertise to highlight the threats posed by prevalent mining, stone-crushing activities and unsustainable development in the Karbi Anglong hills situated on the southern periphery of the national park. They have written and spoken in support of a 10-km eco-sensitive zone to protect the lush, forested hills of Karbi Anglong, which they fear will be destroyed if the eco-sensitive zone radius is reduced from 10 km on the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park.
Postulates were provided detailing the importance of the Karbi Anglong hill forests, which are integral to the conservation of the Kaziranga ecosystem. These discourses provided valuable suggestions for the future conservation of Kaziranga National Park, the safety of Kaziranga’s wildlife and biodiversity, and the conservation of Kaziranga’s long-ranging megafauna species, such as Asian elephants.
These expert commentaries, which attracted attention from regional as well as national media, expressed apprehensions about the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led state government’s plans to destroy these forest areas in Karbi Anglong by shrinking the eco-sensitive zone on the southern periphery of the national park from the default 10 km to 1–3 km.
This campaign attained a political boiling point with prominent political leaders of opposition parties lending support to the 10-km eco-sensitive zone demand, while local people in the Kaziranga landscape vehemently protested against the opposition political leaders who supported the 10-km eco-sensitive zone for Kaziranga National Park.
Remember, the campaigners opposing the site-specific eco-sensitive zone for Kaziranga National Park are not the true custodians of Kaziranga National Park. They are not the people who will have to deal with any eventualities in the future, nor are they the people who have carried the legacy of Kaziranga conservation throughout the history of the Kaziranga forest, which became a national park in 1974.
So, who has fuelled this campaign so far, and why?
The perplexing situation found a clear direction when Soumyadeep Datta, well-known environmental activist and Director of Nature’s Beckon, came out with his unambiguous views regarding the eco-sensitive zone notification for Kaziranga National Park.
He addressed the issue with crucial facts regarding the Kaziranga landscape that have great significance for finding a judicious decision regarding the eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park, but which have surprisingly been ignored from all the discussions, media content and narratives generated so far during the campaign.
He cleared the picture by stating facts and information about the legal standing and implications of an eco-sensitive zone, while he connected these with the allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has shown exemplary political conviction in protecting natural forests, wildlife and biodiversity in Assam.
From the declaration of Raimona National Park, covering 422 sq km, and Dihing Patkai National Park, covering 234.26 sq km, to large tracts of forest areas being reclaimed through massive eviction of encroachments from forest lands and the achievement of zero rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park, the commitment to protecting other natural forests in Assam under the able leadership of the Chief Minister puts questions on the integrity and sincerity of the people of Assam who doubt the intentions of Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the preservation of Kaziranga National Park.
Soumyadeep Datta put forth many hidden facts regarding the Kaziranga landscape in front of the people, which came as a turning point amid the public outcry over the predicament of eco-sensitive zone notification for Kaziranga National Park. He said:
“When the concept of eco-sensitive zone was developed in India, it happened with the entire country in the purview. It was not developed specifically for Kaziranga National Park or any other protected area of Assam. Now, if we try to understand the relevance of eco-sensitive zone, we may take a look at a few national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of India like the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary of 7,506 sq km, Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary of 4,954 sq km in the Rann of Kutch, Sundarban National Park of 1,330 sq km in West Bengal, Hemis National Park of 4,400 sq km in Ladakh, where a 10-km eco-sensitive zone is logical, while in Assam, can we justify an eco-sensitive zone of 10 km for the Bherjan Wildlife Sanctuary of 1.09 sq km, Borajan Wildlife Sanctuary of 4.93 sq km, Padumoni of 1.20 sq km?
“It is important to understand that an eco-sensitive zone can never be a fixed 10-km radius around protected areas; it has to be site-specific, and it must be a duly notified area. In fact, an eco-sensitive zone was never intended to be a fixed 10-km radius as has been projected here in Assam.
“Some misleading narratives have caused the present public outcry regarding the eco-sensitive zone notification of Kaziranga National Park, which has caused distress among the nature-loving people of Assam who have always supported the nature conservation movement in Assam.
“First, there is a notion that an eco-sensitive zone will restrict developmental activities among the villages and towns within its area. There is an unfounded fear spreading among the local people regarding imminent problems for villagers and local communities due to the notification of an eco-sensitive zone.
“Secondly, and one of the biggest lies in this campaign, is regarding the future threats posed to the forests of Karbi Anglong located on the southern periphery of the national park. It is being said that these beautiful forests of Karbi Anglong will be destroyed if the 10-km eco-sensitive zone is not maintained on the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park.
“Himanta Biswa Sarma is being openly alleged to have plans to start stone mining in this area. It is said that he is doing all this to destroy these hills. Some people are saying all this with covert intentions, some are saying it out of ignorance, and many have been misled to support this campaign.
“It is noteworthy that irrespective of whether a 10-km eco-sensitive zone is notified or not on the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park, the government cannot do any harm to these lush forests of Karbi Anglong. Stone mines in these forests are a distant dream; no government can ever touch these forests.
“No one has shared the vital information about these forests, to mislead the people and carry the campaign based on misinformation. This entire stretch of forests in the Karbi Anglong hills is protected as a wildlife sanctuary; hence, it remains preserved from any exploitation whatsoever.
“Many people don’t know, and many intentionally kept the people from knowing, that these forests are protected as the North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary, comprising 96 sq km, and adjacent to this is the East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary of 221.81 sq km. The total area of this contiguous forest of the two wildlife sanctuaries is 317.81 sq km.
“So, how is this forest area threatened by developmental and mining activities? This vital information about the wildlife sanctuaries of Karbi Anglong has been hidden from our people to strengthen the demand for a 10-km eco-sensitive zone on the southern periphery of Kaziranga National Park.
“Now, let us understand why such impetus is given to consolidate a 10-km eco-sensitive zone on the southern periphery of the national park. There are illegal stone-crushing units on the periphery of Kaziranga National Park, and it is important to know that these illegal stone mines started many years ago during the Congress regime in our state, much before Sri Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma came to the Chief Minister’s office in Assam.
“These illegal stone mines are still operating due to a lack of accountability of government departments towards such illegal activities and the difficulty in enforcing the law as per the Supreme Court’s ruling to curb these illegal activities.
“These illegal stone mines are supported by the corrupt government machinery. Moreover, these stone mines are owned by very wealthy people, who are millionaires and have acted as smugglers and wish to continue extracting resources from this area illegally.
“They never want these stone mines to get legalised because this provides them with unaccountable money, for which they don’t have to pay taxes to the government.
“To ensure the continuation of this illegal stone mining in the Kaziranga area, these owners of stone mines are funding various people, even wildlife conservation-related foundations, societies and organisations, to raise this campaign.
“If the eco-sensitive zone stretches up to 10 km on the southern periphery, the villagers and local residents will not face any problems, but these smugglers of illegal stone mines will benefit the most from this decision.
“Since it will be impossible to keep legalised stone mines within the notified eco-sensitive zone, these operational stone mines will continue to function illegally within the corrupt system, and this racket of illegal stone quarries will continue to mint money.
“Moreover, this nexus is planning to cash in on the upcoming Kaziranga elevated corridor project, which has a whopping budget of Rs 6,950 crore.
“Hence, these illegal miners are pushing their agenda through this misinformation campaign, which is driven by many who have received benefits from these illegal stone mine owners of the Kaziranga landscape.”
Soumyadeep Datta categorically stated Nature’s Beckon’s stance regarding the eco-sensitive zone notification for Kaziranga National Park, speaking about the rightful zero-km eco-sensitive zone for areas where villages, towns and agricultural lands are located.
Despite the fact that an eco-sensitive zone does not pose prohibitions on the anthropogenic activities of villagers and local residents, it is advisable to provide a peaceful abode to local residents in this area who have concerns regarding foreseeable interference and administrative bottlenecks if their inhabited areas come inside the eco-sensitive zone.
He said a site-specific, zig-zag eco-sensitive zone is ideal for Kaziranga National Park, with a 0-km radius in areas adjacent to villages and human habitations, and less than a 10-km radius on the southern periphery of the national park to avoid including the existing stone mines within the notified eco-sensitive zone area.
It is noteworthy that Nameri National Park and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam have already been notified with site-specific, zig-zag eco-sensitive zones by MoEFCC, ranging between 0–48 km and 0–8.7 km, respectively.
It is unfortunate that campaigners for a 10-km eco-sensitive zone for Kaziranga National Park, including wildlife conservationists, activists and respected civil society representatives of Assam, failed to show similar interest in demanding a 10-km fixed eco-sensitive zone for these protected areas of Assam. There have been no campaigns or public discourse for such demands so far.
It is a matter for thought for all nature lovers and forest lovers of Assam. We ought to think deeper about the real motives behind this campaign and must always think twice before getting emotionally driven by social media content inciting public sentiment for causes related to the environment and forests in Assam.
We must understand that the strong presence of public psyche regarding nature conservation, forest and wildlife conservation in Assam, which is an outcome of the four-decade-long grassroots-based biodiversity conservation movement in Assam, is being misused by those with vested interests.
The people of Assam must remain vigilant to save themselves from pseudo and misleading environmental campaigns, as we have witnessed this time regarding Kaziranga National Park and earlier, in 2020, regarding the then Dihing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is also important to understand the significance of able leadership, for our people as well as for the cause of nature conservation, because without good leaders we will not achieve our goal of making Assam a first-rung state of India, both economically and ecologically.
We must remain aware of the negative forces that pose as environmental crusaders while working as the biggest enemies of our forests, wildlife and the people of Assam.
A famous saying of Brazilian novelist and lyricist Paulo Coelho comes to my mind with the unfolding of lessons and learnings from the Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone episode of Assam:
“Not all storms come to disturb your life, some come to clear your path.”
I sincerely hope my beloved nature-loving folks will carry the learnings from this episode into the future and find stronger convictions to contribute our efforts to strengthen the base of biodiversity conservation in Assam.
The writer is an environmental activist and writer based in Guwahati. She may be contacted at [email protected].
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Northeast Now.