Finally, the office order banning forthwith all types of mining activities and related activities in the Karbi Anglong hills along the southern boundary of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP) and the entire catchment area of the rivers/streams and rivulets originating in Karbi Anglong hill ranges and flowing into the National Park has been issued. The office order to this effect has been issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of the Forest Forces, Assam on April 30.
The Supreme Court on April 12 directed the State government to ban forthwith “all types of mining and related activities along the southern boundary of the KNP and in the entire catchment area of the rivers/streams and rivulets originating from Karbi Anglong Hill ranges and flowing into Kaziranga National Park.”
The Supreme Court order came in the wake of the recommendations made by the Central Empowered Committee in its report dated March 1, 2019. The report was submitted in connection with the application No. 1431 filed by environment activist Rohit Choudhury in writ petition (C) No. 202 of 1995.
This was followed by a meeting held in the conference hall of the State’s Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Forest, on April 29, 2019 for implementation of the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee in connection with the Supreme Court order.
It needs mention here that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of the Forest Force, Assam was authorised by Rule 3(b) of the Assam Minor Mineral Concession Rule 2013 to regulate mining or any other action in respect of minor minerals specified in schedule ‘Y’.
