Guwahati, August 23: A Supreme Court-constituted Central Empowered Committee has pulled up the Assam government for its continued failure to curb mining activities near Kaziranga National Park and for not implementing critical conservation directives issued years earlier.
In a sharply worded letter to the Assam Chief Secretary, the committee observed that mining and related activities have been continuing “in some way on one pretext or the other” along the southern boundary of the park, particularly in the Karbi Anglong hills and the Parkup Pahar Range. It further noted that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has not been presenting a complete and holistic picture of the situation before the courts.
“It has been observed time and again that the issue has not been addressed with the seriousness it deserves. It may be observed that the unmistakable intent of the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court is to secure the protection of wildlife and to preserve the integrity of the natural drainage system across the entire landscape, thereby safeguarding the ecological balance of the area,” the letter stated.
Describing the matter as sensitive, the panel called for the Chief Secretary’s urgent personal attention and made it clear that any violation of the Supreme Court’s directions would be brought to the notice of the apex court.
The latest communication comes against the backdrop of the state government’s proposal to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Kaziranga from the default 10 km.
In April 2019, the Supreme Court had restrained all forms of mining, stone quarrying and related activities along the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park and across the entire catchment areas of rivers, streams and rivulets originating in the Karbi Anglong hill ranges and flowing into the park. The order also prohibited new construction on private lands that form part of nine identified animal corridors.
Despite the passage of more than six years, the Central Empowered Committee noted that the identification of these catchment areas remains incomplete. The committee had specifically requested the state government, vide its letter dated May 6, 2021, to communicate the action taken towards notification of the nine animal corridors connecting Kaziranga. No response has been received so far.
The panel also highlighted that large-scale mining has ravaged portions of the Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve, which spans both Karbi Anglong and Kaziranga. It pointed to the death of several elephants in human-elephant conflict and observed that the Autonomous Council appears “oblivious” of the relevant notifications. No wildlife management plan containing measures for mitigation of damage to wildlife is currently in place, the committee said.
The Central Empowered Committee had submitted a detailed report along with specific recommendations to the state government on May 30, 2025. In its latest communication, the panel regretted that these recommendations have not yet been fully implemented.
It has now directed the Assam government to immediately notify the nine identified animal corridors, ensure speedy implementation of all earlier recommendations, and instruct the State Law Department to inform all courts in Assam about the Supreme Court’s order on the conservation of Kaziranga.
Environmental activist Rohit Choudhury of Golaghat district had earlier filed a Right to Information application seeking details of compliance with the committee’s directions. Conservationists have repeatedly warned that continued mining and inadequate protection of wildlife corridors pose a serious threat to the ecological integrity of Kaziranga, home to the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses.
The Assam government is yet to issue an official response to the latest communication from the Central Empowered Committee.