Proposals for diversions of land in Eco sensitive zones are submitted by the State Government/Union Territory Administration for consideration of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life (SCNBWL) after due recommendation of the State Board for Wild Life headed by the respective Chief Ministers/Administrators. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life (SCNBWL), which also includes eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists, takes informed decisions on the proposals placed for its consideration.The minutes of the meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life (SCNBWL)is shared to Central Empowered Committee (CEC)for further needful as per the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

Two proposals for diversion were recommended by the SCNBWL including

1. Proposal for construction of 4-lane Tunnel Connectivity across River Brahmaputra between Gohpur (on NH-15) North Bank and Numaligarh (on NH715) South Bank in Assam in the 84th SCNBWL meeting and
2. Proposal for widening and improvement of existing carriage way to 4 Lane Configuration from Kaliabor to Numaligarh section in the 78th SCNBWL meeting.

The State Government has reported that certain mining activities in the KarbiAnglong region are in violation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order dated 12.04.2019 in I.A. No. 42944/2019 in W.P. (C) No. 202/1995. The said order, inter alia, directs as follows “Ban forthwith all types of mining and related activities along the southern boundary of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and in the entire catchment area of the rivers, streams, and rivulets originating in the KarbiAnglong Hill ranges and flowing into Kaziranga National Park.”

The State Government has informed that, in order to ensure strict compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and to safeguard the ecological integrity of Kaziranga National Park and its adjoining environmentally sensitive catchment areas, orders have been issued for the closure of 28 stone quarries and 18 stone crushers operating under the Northern Range, Dolamara. Additionally, 10 mining permits, along with associated operational areas related to stone extraction, sand mahals, and sand-cum-gravel mining contracts (MCAs) in the Rangsali area of the division, have also been shut down.

Further, the Government has taken significant steps to mitigate the risk of road accidents of wild animalsand ecological degradation around Kaziranga National Park which inter alia includes the following:

1. Construction of underpasses, elevated corridors, and culverts to facilitate safe passage of animals across highways.
2. Identification and protection of wildlife corridors to maintain habitat connectivity and minimize the need for animals to cross roads.
3. Installation of eco-friendly barriers and fencing along roads to guide animals toward designated safe crossing points.
4. Implementation of speed-reducing measures such as rumble strips and speed breakers near wildlife crossing zones.
5. Erection of informative and cautionary signboards to alert drivers about wildlife presence and enforce speed regulations.
6. Conduct of public awareness campaigns to educate commuters and local communities on wildlife safety.
7. Use of camera traps, infrared sensors, and drones to monitor animal movement and identify critical hotspots for mitigation.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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VM/GS

(Release ID: 2149273)