The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has taken to the streets against the state government’s proposal to reduce the eco-sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park from 10 km to 1 km.
Opposing the decision, a massive protest programme was held in Kohora, Kaziranga on Monday under the leadership of APCC President Gaurav Gogoi. The protesters made it clear that diluting the existing environmental protection measures of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaziranga would pose a serious threat to wildlife conservation and the biodiversity of the area.
APCC President Gaurav Gogoi was joined in the protest by Meera Borthakur, former MLAs Durlav Chamua, Shivamani Bora, Pranati Phukan and Satyabrata Kalita, along with several other senior party leaders.
Prioritizing the long-term interest of wildlife conservation, the protesting leaders demanded that the government maintain the protective buffer zone around Kaziranga. They also urged the state government to immediately withdraw the proposal to reduce the eco-sensitive zone.
Alongside the protest, the Congress party sharply criticised the government on social media, stating that conservation of wildlife and nature should be given priority over commercial interests. Warning the government not to sacrifice Kaziranga for the benefit of a few corporate groups, the party said Kaziranga is Assam’s most valuable natural asset.
Therefore, the Congress strongly demanded that the government reconsider the entire matter by giving priority to environmental protection before taking any decision regarding Kaziranga and its adjoining areas.
