GUWAHATI: Ten mining sites near famous Kaziranga National Park (KNP), a UNESCO World Heritage Site have been closed down at the intervention of the Supreme Court.
The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Karbi Anglong East Division forest through a notification has ordered the closure of ten mining sites (mostly stone quarries) adjacent to the national park that hosts a treasure trove of one-horned rhinoceros besides numerous other species of animals, reptiles and birds.
The government order has mentioned that the decision has been taken on the basis of the discussion held on April 24 with the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) constituted by the Supreme Court at Chanakya Bhavan, New Delhi. The CEC superseded all orders and provisions of the Assam Mines and Minerals Concession Rules 2013. However, the affected parties have been given a small concession. The order has mentioned that sites for alternative quarries will be selected and mining plans prepared.
Eight quarries that have been shut down under the jurisdiction of Northern Range include Dihing stone quarry, Harmoti stone quarry, Bor Deka stone quarry, Kunjur (Kuthori), Phong langso stone quarry, Leprosy Colony stone quarry, Galeki stone quarry, Panbari stone quarry at Bagori. Silimkhuwa stone quarry under Parkup Pahar Range Rangagora area has been closed. Assistant Conservators of Forest Northern Range and North Western Range have been directed to implement the order without any delay.
It may be mentioned here that all the quarries are located in the fringe areas of the national park which has been marked as eco- sensitive zone (10 km limit) of Kaziranga National Park by the park authority and has been endorsed by the National Green Tribunal. In this connection, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force, Assam also upheld the view of the central empowered committee (CEC) through a letter where he mentioned that illegal mining activities were going on in the hills of Karbi Anglong close to the National Park, and this was observed by the members of the CEC during their visit on June 1, 2018.