Green Tribunal seeks MoEF steps against industrial units around Kaziranga

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to take “necessary” action against the industrial units operating unauthorizedly in the ‘No Development Zone’ around the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

Kaziranga National Park, home to the largest population of one—horned rhinos in the world, is located close to three tea processing units operating within the No Development Zone near the Numaligarh Refinery. The Tribunal, however, has asked the ministry to obtain its prior permission before taking any “coercive action” against these industrial units.

A Bench, which had earlier restrained MoEF from granting any fresh approval or renewing of licences to the stone—crushing industry or other industrial units in the vicinity of the park, has also asked the ministry to take action against all other industries in the “No Development Zone”.

This issue came to light when the Assam— based activist Rohit Chaudhary had filed a case, seeking directions to stop quarrying and working of the stone—crushing units around the national park. He alleged large—scale violation of the July 5, 1996 notification of MoEF which declared as “No Development Zone”, the area within a radius of 15 kilometers from the petroleum refinery at Numaligarh. He also alleged unregulated quarrying and mining activities in the ‘No Development Zone’ around the park and Tiger Reserve and Karbi—Anglong Elephant Reserve in Assam.

The tea processing units had approached the Tribunal to be made a party to the case and have a say in the matter.

A Bench of Tribunal’s Acting Chairperson Justice A. S. Naidu said, “In view of the aforesaid directions, we direct the MoEF to go ahead with the investigation and submit a report before this Tribunal as early as possible.

“It shall also take such action as necessary in respect of other units which are functioning unauthorizedly within the No Development Zone, but they shall not take any coercive action so far as the three tea processing units are concerned, without obtaining prior permission from this Tribunal”.

On April 22, the Tribunal had sought a report from MoEF on industries functioning in the vicinity of the park and asked the ministry to conduct a survey of the area.

The petitioner has sought directions to the MoEF and the Assam government to identify stone—crushing and industrial units operating without approval in the ‘No Development Zone’ and to take necessary action against them, including closure.

The replies to the petitioner’s queries under the RTI Act had revealed that there were 19 stone—quarrying units in the region and 10 of them which ithin five kilometers of the national park while the rest are situated between five to 10 kilometers, the petitioner had said.

Kaziranga National Park is home to a large Rhino population and is the largest concentration of endangered species like swamp deer, wild—buffalo, elephants, tigers and Gangetic dolphins, the petition had said.