Home / Environment / Assam Ignores Court on Kaziranga Construction
Assam Ignores Court on Kaziranga Construction
22 Aug
Summary
- Assam government allegedly ignored a Supreme Court panel's notice regarding construction.
- Supreme Court banned mining and new construction near Kaziranga National Park in 2019.
- Environmental activist's RTI query reveals lack of information from Assam government.
The Assam government has faced scrutiny for allegedly ignoring a directive from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a Supreme Court-constituted panel. In March 2022, the CEC requested information on construction activities around the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
This came after a Supreme Court order on April 14, 2019, which prohibited mining, stone quarrying, and new construction on private lands within the nine identified wildlife corridors of the park. The order aimed to protect wildlife and crucial water sources.
An environmental activist, Rohit Choudhury, filed an RTI application on June 14 seeking updates from the CEC. Despite assurances from the Assam Chief Secretary in March 2022 to provide information promptly, the CEC stated in July that it had not received any data from the state government, even after two reminders.
Further attempts by the activist to obtain information directly from the Chief Secretary's office were met with a response from the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department on July 29. The department stated the information could not be provided because the "case is sub judice." This response comes as the Assam Chief Minister has expressed a preference for a smaller ESZ than the default 10 km, and recent reports indicate illegal sand mining near the park.
