‘NEW DELHI: The Union Environment Ministry and the Assam government have been restrained by the National Green Tribunal from granting fresh approval to any industrial or stone crushing unit in the vicinity of the famed Kaziranga National Park or renewing the existing ones.
The tribunal, which had issued notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Assam government on January 5, asked them to respond by February 29 on unregulated quarrying and mining activities in the ‘no development zone’ around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and Karbi-Anglong Elephant Reserve in Assam. “As an interim measure, we direct the authorities to maintain status-quo till the next date and not to grant permission for any new crusher unit or any other new industrial unit in the demarcated zone.(PTI)