Hundreds of residents living around Kaziranga National Park in Assam marched through Kaliabor on Tuesday, 18 August, backing the state government's proposal to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the park from the default 10-km limit to 1 km in the proposed areas. The demonstration marked a visible escalation of local sentiment in an increasingly charged political dispute over conservation boundaries and community rights.

What the Protesters Demanded

The march proceeded from Kuthari to Bagori, with participants carrying placards and raising slogans against Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi, both of whom have reportedly opposed the proposed reduction in the ESZ. Some demonstrators staged a semi-nude protest to underscore the intensity of their opposition to a wider buffer zone.

Members of the Karbi Students' Association and residents from Karbi Anglong also joined the march, broadening the demographic base of the pro-reduction camp. Protesters argued that a 10-km ESZ would impose severe restrictions on homes, livelihoods, businesses, and other economic activities of communities that have lived in the area for decades.

The Political Backdrop

The ESZ debate has gained significant political traction after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly criticised the Congress over its opposition to the proposed reduction. Sarma warned that a blanket 10-km ESZ stretching from Bokakhat to Kaliabor could have serious implications for settlements, businesses, and major economic establishments in the region.

He specifically cited the Numaligarh Refinery and settlements in Bokakhat and Kaliabor, stating that any final ESZ limits must be determined in accordance with the Supreme Court's directions on the matter. Gaurav Gogoi has reportedly maintained that the protected zone should extend up to 10 km from the national park boundary.

Conservation vs Community Rights

Protesters were careful to frame their demands within a conservation-friendly narrative — acknowledging the importance of protecting Kaziranga's rich biodiversity while insisting that the rights and livelihoods of surrounding communities cannot be sidelined. They contended that any ESZ decision must account for the decades-long presence of villages and economic activity in the zone.

This comes amid a broader national pattern of ESZ disputes, where Supreme Court-mandated buffer zones around protected forests have repeatedly clashed with the interests of local populations. Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, carries particularly high conservation stakes, making any boundary decision politically and ecologically consequential.

What Comes Next

The state government's proposal is subject to final determination in line with the Supreme Court's framework, and no official reduction has been formally notified yet. With local communities, opposition politicians, and the ruling dispensation all staking out distinct positions, the ESZ boundary question is set to remain a flashpoint in Assam's political landscape in the weeks ahead.