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Supreme Court Panel Criticises Assam Government Over Mining Near Kaziranga

A Supreme Court-appointed panel has pulled up the Assam government for failing to address ongoing mining activities along the southern perimeter of Kaziranga National Park with required seriousness, pointing to unheeded court directives and delays in protecting crucial animal movement paths.

What Happened

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, raised serious concerns regarding the state’s handling of mining operations in and around the Parkup Pahar Range. The area serves as a designated wildlife sanctuary and an essential ecological corridor for wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros.

The issue gained renewed attention following a Right to Information (RTI) query submitted on June 15 by Golaghat-based environmental activist Rohit Choudhury. The application sought compliance records relating to instructions issued by the CEC to the Assam Chief Secretary on May 30, 2025. These directives had ordered the submission of quarterly action-taken reports alongside a comprehensive Watershed Drainage Analysis Report to map all drainage areas flowing into Kaziranga by an October 2025 deadline. In its response on July 17, the CEC confirmed that while quarterly reports were attached, the comprehensive watershed report had not been received, indicating the required exercise remained uncompleted.

This scrutiny follows an earlier communication sent on March 3, in which the CEC cautioned the state’s Chief Secretary that mining and connected works continued under various pretexts. The panel noted that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), which administers the bordering district, had failed to present a complete picture to the judiciary and appeared to lack an operational wildlife management plan.

Key Highlights

  • The CEC stated that the Assam administration has not handled mining around the Parkup Pahar Range with adequate seriousness.
  • An apex court ruling from April 12, 2019, explicitly prohibited mining along Kaziranga’s southern edge and across catchments originating in the Karbi Anglong hills, alongside barring new private construction across nine animal corridors.
  • More than six years after the judicial directive, authorities have failed to demarcate the river and stream catchment zones.
  • The state government has not responded to repeated requests, dating back to May 6, 2021, regarding steps taken to formally notify the nine identified wildlife corridors.
  • The panel questioned the approval of mining leases around Borjuri within the Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve, an area already affected by mining activities and human-elephant conflicts.

Why This Matters

The southern boundary formed by the Karbi Anglong hills serves as a critical refuge for animals escaping severe seasonal flooding within Kaziranga National Park. In addition, water networks originating in these hills sustain the park’s wetland ecology. The CEC highlighted that the explicit purpose of the Supreme Court’s 2019 directions was to safeguard wildlife habitats, maintain the integrity of natural drainage systems across the landscape, and protect the ecological balance of the elephant reserve.

What to Watch Next

The CEC has instructed the Assam government to swiftly carry out all pending recommendations from its May 30, 2025 report and immediately issue notifications for the nine animal corridors. Furthermore, the State Law Department has been asked to apprise all regional courts across Assam regarding the Supreme Court’s conservation orders concerning Kaziranga. The committee warned that persistent violations of apex court directives will be formally presented before the Supreme Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Supreme Court order in April 2019 regarding Kaziranga?

On April 12, 2019, the Supreme Court restrained all mining and related activities along Kaziranga’s southern boundary and throughout the catchment areas of streams originating in Karbi Anglong. It also prohibited new construction on private land within nine identified animal corridors.

Why was an RTI application filed with the CEC?

Environmental activist Rohit Choudhury submitted an RTI application on June 15 to assess the state government’s compliance with CEC directions, specifically seeking the Watershed Drainage Analysis Report and status updates on enforcement actions.

What concerns were raised about the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council?

The CEC noted that the council failed to present a holistic picture to the courts, seemed oblivious to protective notifications, had no active wildlife management plan to mitigate damage, and allowed mining leases within an elephant reserve.

Source: Based on reporting published by The Hindu.