Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the existing 10-km default eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park and Project Tiger areas will remain in force until the state govt’s site-specific ESZ proposal is formally notified.He said Supreme Court’s reference to a 1-km ESZ does not automatically reduce the current 10-km buffer.“The Supreme Court has said that around a wildlife sanctuary, the eco-sensitive zone will normally be 1 km, and if required, it can go up to three kilometres,” Sarma said.“Until the state notifies it, the eco-sensitive zone will remain 10 km. The moment it is notified, it will be reduced to 1 km,” he said, adding, “If we maintain 10 km all around Kaziranga, then everything in Kaliabor, Doboka, Jakhalabandha will be finished.”Sarma said the state forest department will prepare the proposal and send it to central govt, which will forward it to the Wildlife Institute of India, after which the process will be completed.“A few days ago, the eco-sensitive zone around Deepor Beel (A Ramsar Site in Guwahati) was notified at 1 km. So 1 km is the norm. There is no wildlife sanctuary anywhere in the world where the eco-sensitive zone is 10 km,” he said.His clarification comes amid a debate over the proposed reduction of the default ESZ around Kaziranga. Sarma maintained that there was no question of an immediate or automatic reduction solely because Supreme Court had referred to a 1-km minimum, and that the final extent around Kaziranga would have to emerge through the prescribed notification process.
