A resident of Bengaluru named Jaideep Gandhi has called for the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Assam state government to act against Numaligarh Refinery Ltd for building a wall illegally to build a golf course in the ‘No-development Zone’ of Kaziranga National Park.
Located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, Kaziranga National Park is home to two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses and has large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer. The park that has achieved notable success in wildlife conservation is no more a place for elephants and other animals to survive with freedom and adequate resources like, food and water.
“Blocking the elephants’ traditional route, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. has constructed a [huge] wall, illegally, around the area in which they have now built a golf course, right within the precincts of Kaziranga National Park.”
Take a look at this video shared by Sanctuary Photo Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Dzkr5cz8c
The wall already resulted in the death of two innocent elephant calves trying to get to the other side of the wall!
“The golf course lies within the no development zone and the area was frequented by elephants, deer and other wildlife for foraging and water requirements.”
Environment activist Rohit Choudhury has already filed a complaint that is being heard by the National Green Tribunal.
“The demolition of the wall and subsequent restoration of the area is being considered by the courts, along with the suspension of all illegal activity in the area and the payment of a compensation fee for the destruction of prime forest land in a No-Development Zone.”
To create a safe environment for the animals, the case is being represented by eminent environment lawyer Adv. Ritwick Dutta.
You can sign the petition and join Jaideep here.
