Guwahati: Conservationist Rohit Choudhury wants answers. He sent a formal letter to the Assam Chief Secretary on September 29. He demands proof for claims about the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. Construction remains a major point of friction.
Assam Environment Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary sparked this row on August 17. He posted on X that the zone stretches 1 to 3 kilometers from the park. He claimed indigenous residents cannot build homes there because of Supreme Court rules. Choudhury disagrees.
He points to the June 3, 2022 Supreme Court ruling in T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad versus Union of India. That order set a one-kilometer minimum zone. But he notes a later order from April 26, 2023 changed the game. That decision held that "ESZs cannot be uniform and are required to be specific to individual protected areas."
Choudhury wants the government to name the specific law or order backing their 1 to 3 kilometer claim. He needs to know who authorizes construction permits. If the state lacks a legal basis, he demands a public correction. He sent copies to the Chief Minister, state and union environment departments, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The Assam Police and local district officials also received the document.
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