The Gauhati High Court has taken serious note of large-scale illegal community fishing inside Kaziranga National Park during the Magh Bihu celebrations in mid-January and has directed the Assam Government and Kaziranga authorities to strictly enforce prohibitory orders to curb such activities.

What did the Gauhati High Court say?

• The Court acted on a Public Interest Litigation filed by environmental activist Rohit Choudhury.
• It observed that unchecked fishing inside Kaziranga violates:
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
  • Forest Conservation Act, 1980
  • Article 48A of the Constitution, which directs the State to protect the environment
  • India’s international environmental obligations
• The Court directed authorities to strictly enforce prohibitory orders and submit an affidavit detailing steps taken to prevent illegal fishing, especially during the first two weeks of January.

Why is illegal fishing a serious concern in Kaziranga?

• During Magh Bihu (January 13–14), large numbers of people traditionally enter wetlands inside the park for fishing.
• Such activities disrupt the fragile aquatic ecosystem and threaten biodiversity.
• Kaziranga supports:
  • The one-horned rhinoceros
  • Migratory birds
  • Around 42 species of fish, forming a vital food chain
• Unregulated fishing has a cascading ecological impact, affecting birds, reptiles and large mammals.

About Kaziranga National Park

• The Kaziranga National Park is one of the oldest wildlife conservancy reserves of India, first notified in 1905 and constituted as Reserved Forest in 1908 with an area of 228.825 Sq. Km.
• It was specially established for conservation and protection of the Greater One Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Unicornis). 
• Kaziranga was declared a Game Sanctuary in 1916 and opened to visitors in 1938. 
• It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950, and notified as Kaziranga National Park in 1974 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with an area of 429.93 Sq. Km.
• It was declared as a World Heritage site in 1985 and Tiger reserve in 2006.
• The National Park is located in parts of Golaghat, Nagaon, Biswanath and Sonitpur districts of Assam. 
• The Park HQ is at Bokakhat, on the NH 37 (now NH 715) which is also the Sub Divisional HQ of Bokakhat Civil Sub Division in Golaghat District.
• Kaziranga has five ranges namely 
  • Eastern Range at Agaratoli (north east of Bokakhat), 
  • Central Range at Kohora (west of Bokakhat), 
  • Western Range at Bagori (further west of Kohora), 
  • Burapahar Range at Ghorakati (further west of Bagori on the NH 37) 
  • Northern Range at Biswanath (west of Bokakhat).
• The Park is located between the Brahmaputra River in the north and the Karbi Anglong Hills in the south. 
• Other rivers flowing through the park include Mora Diphlu, Mora Dhansiri, Diphlu.

Administrative challenge

• The Forest Department stated that prohibitory orders are issued regularly, but enforcement becomes difficult due to large congregations driven by religious and cultural fervour.
• The Court stressed that cultural practices cannot override environmental law in protected areas.

Exam Hook – Prelims

Q. With reference to Kaziranga National Park, consider the following statements:

1. Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an Important Bird Area.
2. Large-scale fishing inside the park violates the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
3. Article 48A of the Constitution places a duty on citizens to protect wildlife.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

One-line wrap:
The High Court’s intervention highlights that protecting Kaziranga’s biodiversity must take precedence over unregulated cultural practices inside protected areas.

SOURCE