A debate has intensified over the proposal to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve to just one kilometre. Conservationists argue that such a move would undermine decades of protection and insist that the buffer width must be determined scientifically through an independent study involving local communities. The Balipara Foundation, which issued the appeal, stresses that Kaziranga is a global natural asset and any change to its protection must be validated with evidence, possibly in consultation with international institutions.
Development pressures are already visible around towns such as Jakhalabandha, Kohora, Bagori and Bokakhat, where unregulated construction, tourism and traffic are encroaching dangerously close to the park boundary. In some areas, notably Sekoni and Bokakhat, built-up development stands less than one kilometre from the park even before any formal reduction of the ESZ. Conservationists warn that shrinking the buffer would intensify risks, including disease transmission between domestic cattle and wild herds, and disrupt critical wildlife corridors that animals use during monsoon floods to reach higher ground in the Karbi Anglong hills.
Kaziranga’s conservation success is remarkable: its rhino population has grown from 1,552 in 1999 to 2,613 in 2022, elephants number over 1,200, tigers have risen to 148 in 2024, and wild water buffalo exceed 2,500. This growth requires proportionately more grassland, wetlands and water resources. Experts caution that without a scientifically grounded buffer and a dedicated carrying-capacity study, the park’s ecological balance could be jeopardized.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 order mandates a default 10-km buffer around protected areas, reaffirmed by the Gauhati High Court in 2026. Conservationists urge that this remain in place until a comprehensive study is completed, ensuring Kaziranga’s wildlife retains its ancient routes to safety while Assam’s development proceeds without compromising its natural heritage.