Guwahati: For Kaziranga’s fringe communities, the 10-km eco-sensitive zone has become a symbol of the everyday problems they say they face.Hundreds of residents from areas including Bagori and Kuthori rallied from Kuthori to Haldhibari on Tuesday, supporting Assam govt’s proposal to reduce Kaziranga National Park’s eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) from the current default extent of 10 km to 1-3 km.Carrying banners and posters, the protesters raised slogans backing the govt and opposing Congress, which has criticised the proposed reduction.“We know what problems we are facing due to the ESZ, and we welcome the CM’s decision as a solution to our problems. We are protesting because Gaurav Gogoi said the zone should be kept at 10 km, but that is not right,” a resident said.The protesters briefly blocked the national highway at Haldhibari before submitting a memorandum to the local administration, seeking early implementation of the proposal.The rally came a day after the Assam Congress held a protest near Kaziranga. Gaurav alleged that the move could provide a “legal cover for mining and undermine wildlife conservation”.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the protests reflected public anger.“Some people (opposition) are debating the issue without understanding it, and they do not realise the damage they are causing to the state. That is why there is anger in the state,” Sarma said.Rejecting allegations that the proposal was intended to facilitate a five-star hotel near the park, Sarma said an ESZ did not impose a blanket ban on construction or tourism activities.“There is no connection between the hotel project and the ESZ debate. The ESZ framework primarily restricts mining and certain polluting and environmentally damaging activities, rather than prohibiting hotels or tourism facilities. If somebody is protesting against the hotel on the ground that it will fall within an ESZ, they do not understand what an ESZ is,” he said.Sarma said the proposed hotel was within 1 km of the park boundary and cited Jim Corbett as an example of tourism infrastructure around protected areas. He said tourism was important to Kaziranga’s economy.
