'Business establishments affecting Kaziranga ecology'

GUWAHATI: The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), a political party in Karbi Anglong, said business and government establishments adjacent to the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) along Nation Highway 37 were disturbing the ecology of the park.
The ASDC, in a statement, said these establishments came into existence in the 1990s. It sadded that it is being reported that economic activities like jhum (slash and burn) cultivation, stone quarries, road construction activities in the hilly areas near the villages of Dolamara, Panbari, Diring, Bagori, Rongmongve, Deopani and Rongagora, which are all in the Autonomous district of Karbi Anglong, have been disturbing the animals of KNP.
"But the fact is that the villages mentioned above are very old settlements which were there long before the creation of KNP. The indigenous tribals of these villages have never encroached upon the designated land of KNP," ASDC Youth Front president Premson Bey said in the statement.
The ASDC said the state government allowed all kinds of business to run along NH-37 since the last 30 years.
"Blaming the indigenous people living in Karbi Anglong and banning their economic activities and depriving them of their livelihood wouldn't help protect the sanctuary (KNP)," ASDC said in the statement.
Meanwhile, the state principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest force A M Singh. in a notification issued on April 30, said, "In the exercise of powers conferred under Rule 3(b) of the Assam Minor Mineral Concession Rule 2013 it is hereby ordered that all types of mining and related activities along the southern boundary of the Kaziranga National Park and in the entire catchment area of the rivers, streams and rivulets originating in Karbi Anglong hills range and flowing into KNP is banned forthwith".
The Supreme Court on April 12 had imposed a ban on mining activities along the southern fringes of KNP boundary and all the catchment areas of rivers and streams originating in Karbi Anglong. The apex court also directed the director general of police to ensure that no mining activity takes place in catchment areas of streams and rivers originating in the Karbi Anglong hills and flowing to to the adjoining KNP, a World Heritage Site.