Guwahati: The Assam Government is withdrawing its proposal for an integrated Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) encompassing approximately 3600 sq km in the light of several significant concerns.
The proposal submitted to the Forest Department included eight Protected Areas (PAs). These include Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (KNP&TR) along with its 10 additions.
Other PAs included Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, including its first addition, Nambor-Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary, Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary and the proposed North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary.
This integrated ESZ encompasses nearly 340 villages spread across five districts. These villagers and local communities raised concerns about unsettled boundaries, their livelihood rights.
This has led to the withdrawal of the proposal by the Assam Government as the move had the potential for widespread socio-economic disruption.
The proposed ESZ was set to directly affect approximately 500,000 individuals, a substantial portion of whom belong to Scheduled Castes/Tribes and economically weaker sections. Many of these people rely on agriculture, tea estates and other rural means of sustenance.
The tea estates alone encompass more than 8,000 hectares and employ over 25,000 workers.
The area also encompasses centuries-old villages, along with essential social infrastructure such as schools, colleges, and hospitals, as well as vital amenities like drinking water and irrigation facilities, and rural markets.
Furthermore, it includes critical public infrastructure, notably the Numaligarh Refinery and major national highways NH 37 and NH 39.
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