Supreme Court Panel Reprimands Assam Over Illegal Mining Near Kaziranga

Gist The Supreme Court-constituted Central Empowered Committee CEC has severely criticized the Assam government and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council KAAC for failing to curb illegal mining on the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park. Despite a 2019 Supreme Court ban, destructive mining and construction activities continue to threaten the fragile Parkup Pahar Range, key river catchments, and vital animal corridors. For a UPSC aspirant, this issue highlights the critical tension between enforcing ecological safeguards—such as Eco-Sensitive Zones and wildlife corridors—and the ground-level governance failures involving autonomous administrative bodies. Background The Central Empowered Committee CEC is a panel constituted by the Supreme Court of India to monitor and ensure compliance with the court's directives on forests, wildlife, and environmental conservation. The southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park borders the Karbi Anglong district, which is governed by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council KAAC . In an order dated April 12, 2019 , the Supreme Court imposed a blanket ban on all mining and related activities along this southern boundary and throughout the catchment areas of rivers originating in the Karbi Anglong…