Supreme Court bans mining along Kaziranga National Park

Guwahati, April 20, 2019:

In a significant victory for animal lovers of the state, the Supreme Court of India has banned mining and related activities along the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP) and in the catchment area of the rivers/streams and rivulets which originate in the Karbi Anglong Hill ranges and flow into the park.

The SC has ordered that “that all kind of mining and related activities along the Kaziranga National Park area and in the entire catchment area of rivers/streams and rivulets originating in Karbi Anglong Hill ranges and flowing into Kaziranga National Park, including Tiger Reserve are restrained.”

The bench comprising of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Deepak Gupta has ordered that no new construction shall be permitted on private land which form part of the nine identified animal corridors.

The order of the court came in an application moved by environment activist Rohit Choudhury who has been making effort towards conserving wildlife in KNP, which is home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros, and the regions around it.