GUWAHATI, Oct 19 � The Gauhati High Court has asked the Centre and the State Government to file a detailed affidavit on the latest status of encroachment in and around Kaziranga National Park, including on the Government land in its peripheral areas.
The court also directed the Government to mention the steps taken by it to check encroachment and poaching.
A division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice AK Goel and Justice AK Goswami issued the directive on Thursday, asking the Government to file the affidavit on November 19.
Acting on a PIL (67/2012) filed by Mrinal Saikia besides taking suo motu cognizance (66/2012), the High Court had on October 4 asked the State Government to file the affidavit on October 18, but the Government sought more time during the hearing on that day.
Advocate Rita Boro Bora who represented the petitioner together with Udayjyoti Saikia, said that as per 2007 data, an area of 7,790 hectares was under encroachment in Kaziranga, mostly on the sixth addition to the park. Besides, large-scale encroachment on government land in close proximity to the park resulted in blockage to the few critical animal corridors widely used by Kaziranga�s wildlife, especially during the annual high floods.
Additional Advocate General Devajit Saikia represented the State Government while the Centre was represented by C Baruah.
GUWAHATI, Oct 19 � The Gauhati High Court has asked the Centre and the State Government to file a detailed affidavit on the latest status of encroachment in and around Kaziranga National Park, including on the Government land in its peripheral areas.
The court also directed the Government to mention the steps taken by it to check encroachment and poaching.
A division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice AK Goel and Justice AK Goswami issued the directive on Thursday, asking the Government to file the affidavit on November 19.
Acting on a PIL (67/2012) filed by Mrinal Saikia besides taking suo motu cognizance (66/2012), the High Court had on October 4 asked the State Government to file the affidavit on October 18, but the Government sought more time during the hearing on that day.
Advocate Rita Boro Bora who represented the petitioner together with Udayjyoti Saikia, said that as per 2007 data, an area of 7,790 hectares was under encroachment in Kaziranga, mostly on the sixth addition to the park. Besides, large-scale encroachment on government land in close proximity to the park resulted in blockage to the few critical animal corridors widely used by Kaziranga�s wildlife, especially during the annual high floods.
Additional Advocate General Devajit Saikia represented the State Government while the Centre was represented by C Baruah.
