Protected areas, tiger reserves and eco sensitive zones

Prelims and Mains

The fight over Kaziranga is not about the park but about the hills beside it, because every monsoon the animals leave the park for them.

• An eco-sensitive zone is notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which is what lets the Centre restrict activity on land outside a park's boundary.
• A zone's width is fixed park by park in its own notification, so the ten kilometre default is a starting point to be argued over rather than a rule.
• Assam moved to seek a cut in Kaziranga's eco-sensitive zone from ten kilometres to one to three, which activists say would open the land to mining and tourism.
• The Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee pulled the State up for not stopping mining in the Karbi Anglong hills, banned since 2019.
• A National Green Tribunal petition alleges mechanised sand mining in the Deihori river inside the proposed zone.

Background reading: The Hindu, 27 Aug 2026: Kaziranga under pressure from mining and a smaller buffer zone (opens in a new tab)

Prelims

Satkosia had lost its tigers years before the evictions now being examined, which is the uncomfortable part of the case. Odisha has set up a high level committee to find out whether the villages that were moved out went willingly.

• Satkosia Tiger Reserve is in Odisha.
• The committee will test compliance with the two Acts and with NTCA guidelines.
• It may recommend compensation or the restoration of rights.