Guwahati, Nov 10: Taking serious note on illegal mining in the Parkup Pahar Range of Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve in violation of the Supreme Court’s order, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked the Assam government to take “appropriate and necessary action”.
The Assam Tribune carried a news report with photographs on the rampant destruction of forest cover and hill topography on November 1, 2026. Prior to that environmental activist Rohit Choudhury had also made a detailed representation before the Union ministry dated October 7, 2026 regarding illegal mining in the Parkup Pahar area.
“The representation is self-explanatory... In this regard, the State Government of Assam is requested to look into the matter and take appropriate and necessary action, in accordance with law,” the MoEFF’s letter addressed to the Special Chief Secretary (Forests), Forest and Environment, Government of Assam, stated.
Mining and quarrying activities, going on unabated under the very eyes of the authorities in the Parkup Pahar range – a known wildlife habitat and a crucial wildlife corridor – have posed a serious threat to the wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity between Kaziranga National Park and the forested Karbi Anglong landscape.
Earlier, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had called for an immediate halt to the destructive activities, warning that “there is a high risk” of Kaziranga National Park losing its corridor and habitat connectivity with the larger Karbi Anglong landscape permanently.
“Lack of corridors and habitat contiguity for wildlife dispersal will have serious implications for long-term conservation of wide ranging species like tigers and Indian elephants of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve,” the NTCA observed.
Apparently, the Assam government has been taking a lenient view of the devastations being perpetrated on the greater Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape – something corroborated by the absence of enforcement despite repeated concerns by the Supreme Court, NTCA, and the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
The ongoing vandalism directly violates the Supreme Court’s order dated 12.04.2019 in I.A. No.42944/2019 in W.P. (Civil) No. 202/1995.
The Supreme Court order did not leave any ambiguity when it observed that “...we order that all kinds of mining and related activities along the aforesaid Kaziranga National Park area and in the entire catchment area of rivers/streams and rivulets originating in Karbi Anglong Hill ranges and flowing into Kaziranga National Park, including Tiger Reserve are restrained. No new construction shall be permitted on private lands which form part of the nine identified animal corridors...”
The area under the Karbi Anglong East Division lies along the southern boundary and eco-sensitive catchment zone of Kaziranga National Park. Unhindered mining is effecting permanent alteration of the wildlife habitat in Parkup Pahar and Dolamara area.
The CEC has repeatedly written to the Assam government to initiate action to stop mining activities but with little effective outcome.
The CEC, through letters dated 30.05.2025 and 05.03.2026, called for strict compliance with the Supreme Court’s order on containing mining in the Karbi Anglong hills adjoining Kaziranga.