The National Green Tribunal has directed surprise inspection on the national highway passing through the Kaziranga National Park in Assam to curb encroachments, including hotels and other commercial activities, on the road.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, directed the Director of Kaziranga National Park, M K Yadava, to inspect National Highway-37 which passes from Jakhalabandha to Bokakhat through the Kaziranga Park.
The green panel also directed Yadava to submit a comprehensive affidavit "dealing with the various aspects including hotels and projects and other commercial activity which are coming up within 10 km of the boundary of the national park".
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"He shall also file a list of such constructions or activity which are offending the distance of 10km as contemplated under the orders of the Supreme Court of India," the bench said.
It also asked Assam government to apprise it about steps it has taken with regard to prevention of animal deaths on the roads by vehicular traffic.
The bench directed the Secretary from Assam government, senior officer from Ministry of Surface and Road Transport and the Director of Kaziranga National Park to be be present in person on December 9, 2015, the next date of hearing.
The Tribunal had earlier directed Assam government to clear its stand on eco-sensitive zones and how it has permitted large-scale hotel projects to come up in and around the Kaziranga National Park -home to the famous one-horned rhinos.
The Tribunal's direction came during a hearing on a plea filed by environmentalist Rohit Choudhury opposing expansion of NH-37 which passes from Jakhalabandha to Bokakhat through the Kaziranga Park.
The green bench had expressed its dissatisfaction over the report filed by Assam government with regard to eco-sensitive zones saying it was not in compliance with earlier directions and orders.
The panel had further asked Assam government to explain its stand on the Kaziranga National Park being a protected area and the normal distances from the boundary of the national park clearly showing prohibited and regulatory zones with respect to the Supreme Court's verdict.
The green panel had on September 30 pulled up Assam government for delay in preparing a project report on measures to curb growing wildlife casualties due to vehicular movement on the national highway passing through the Kaziranga National Park.
It had taken exception to the fact that the state government had not filed a detailed project report (DPR) on the issue, despite directions issued on April 22 that it should do so within three months.
Assam government had earlier told the bench that the DPR was to be prepared in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, and the Director of the Kaziranga National Park.
The NGT had earlier ordered a ban on roadside shops and eateries along the animal corridors near Kaziranga, among a slew of directions in the wake of increasing wildlife casualties due to vehicular movement on the adjacent highway.
The green panel had also asked the state government to ensure fixing of sensor-operated automatic barriers at the animal corridors and ascertain whether speed-check cameras were in working condition or not.
