Shrinking the Buffer: A False Promise for Kaziranga's Future The Assam government's proposal to shrink the eco sensitive zone around Kaziranga National Park has reignited a long standing debate over balancing conservation and human development in India's protected areas.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma argues that a smaller buffer will ease restrictions on housing, healthcare, and infrastructure for local communities, but critics contend that such a move would weaken safeguards for an ecosystem whose ecological footprint extends far beyond the park's boundaries.
The concept of eco sensitive zones (ESZs) is at the heart of this debate.