Guwahati: The state government and the forest department have earned flak from the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for failing to make nine animal corridors in the Kaziranga National Park (WHY) totally free of alleged encroachment.
A meeting was recently held between CEC and the Assam chief secretary and other officials of the state government regarding alleged constructions in the identified animal corridors of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in violation of the apex court’s order dated April 12, 2019. It was decided to request the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, to provide details of changes that have taken place along the identified nine corridors, subsequent to the SC order, utilising satellite imageries of the relevant periods.
The chief secretary agreed to submit the list of activities, which have taken place in respect of each corridor in violation of the apex court’s order. The Assam CS has also agreed to submit the names and designations of officers who granted permission for the construction activities along with copies of licences and permissions given by them. The CS has agreed to provide the names of the officers responsible for the enforcement of provisions of the eco-sensitive zone since NH-37 comes within a 10-km distance from the boundaries of the KNP.
A report on the present status of removal of illegal constructions and vehicle-parking on nine animal corridors along NH-37 sent on February 15 by the field director of KNP to the chief wildlife warden, Assam, shows the status, in respect of nine animal corridors being mostly ‘not removed/continuing”.
The SC in 2019 ordered, “No new construction shall be permitted on private lands which form part of the nine identified animal corridors,” read the order.
A meeting was recently held between CEC and the Assam chief secretary and other officials of the state government regarding alleged constructions in the identified animal corridors of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in violation of the apex court’s order dated April 12, 2019. It was decided to request the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, to provide details of changes that have taken place along the identified nine corridors, subsequent to the SC order, utilising satellite imageries of the relevant periods.
The chief secretary agreed to submit the list of activities, which have taken place in respect of each corridor in violation of the apex court’s order. The Assam CS has also agreed to submit the names and designations of officers who granted permission for the construction activities along with copies of licences and permissions given by them. The CS has agreed to provide the names of the officers responsible for the enforcement of provisions of the eco-sensitive zone since NH-37 comes within a 10-km distance from the boundaries of the KNP.
A report on the present status of removal of illegal constructions and vehicle-parking on nine animal corridors along NH-37 sent on February 15 by the field director of KNP to the chief wildlife warden, Assam, shows the status, in respect of nine animal corridors being mostly ‘not removed/continuing”.
The SC in 2019 ordered, “No new construction shall be permitted on private lands which form part of the nine identified animal corridors,” read the order.