Ensure no construction in Kaziranga Park: NGT to Assam govt

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Assam government to ensure that no construction is allowed in and around the Kaziranga National Park, home to the famous one-horned rhinos.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the state government to file a comprehensive map of the park with its boundaries and "offending" structures within five km of its boundaries.
"The state government shall ensure the strict compliance of the orders of the tribunal and no construction whatsoever should be permitted to come up in and around the Kaziranga National Park.
"Even the patta holder cannot raise any construction in the eco-sensitive area or in the buffer zone as Patta gives a right in the land primarily for agricultural purpose and nothing more," the bench said, while posting the case for final hearing on September 14.

The green panel also asked the Assam government to file status report on steps to minimise increasing wildlife casualties in the National Park within two days.
The tribunal's direction came while hearing a plea filed by environmentalist Rohit Choudhury opposing expansion of NH-37 which passes through Jakhalabandha to Bokakhat through the Kaziranga Park.

The tribunal had in July issued bailable warrant against 28 dhabas, resorts and other commercial establishment owners for not appearing before the tribunal and raising illegal structures in the national park.
It had earlier slammed the Assam government over a CAG report which had detected a number of lapses and anomalies by the state in maintenance of the Kaziranga National Park.

The CAG report had pointed out various resorts and dhabas in the Bokakhat have been running on land within two to three km of the Park boundary.