Gauhati High Court seeks status quo on encroachment in Manas Tiger Reserve
One of the major encroachers is a seed farm under the Bodoland Territorial Council’s Agriculture Department, the petition by green activist Rohit Choudhury says
360° Perspective Analysis
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Context
The has ordered the Assam government and the (BTC) to maintain the status quo and prevent further encroachment in the and Tiger Reserve. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighted large-scale illegal occupation, notably by the Kokilabari Seed Farm, within the core critical tiger habitat. The court's intervention underscores the ongoing conflict between agricultural land use and wildlife conservation in protected areas.
UPSC Perspectives
Environmental
The core issue revolves around the protection of (CTH), which are meant to be inviolate areas essential for tiger conservation under the . The encroachment of over 18,000 bighas, particularly in the Panbari and Bhuyanpara ranges of the , directly threatens the ecological integrity of this . The continued operation of the Kokilabari Seed Farm within the core area highlights the challenges in reclaiming land for conservation once alternative land uses have been established. For UPSC, understanding the distinction between core and buffer areas in Tiger Reserves, and the role of the (NTCA) in enforcing these boundaries, is crucial. The conflict demonstrates the pressures of population and agriculture on protected areas, a recurring theme in GS Paper 3.
Polity
This case highlights the complexities of governance in areas. The (BTC) exercises significant autonomy over land and agriculture in the region. The conflict arises because the BTC continues to lease out the Kokilabari Seed Farm land for agriculture, despite the State Forest Department and the NTCA asserting that it falls within the core habitat of the Tiger Reserve. This demonstrates a tension between the conservation mandates driven by state and central laws (like the ) and the autonomous powers granted to the BTC. Furthermore, the use of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) under to compel state action underscores the role of the judiciary as an environmental watchman when executive action fails. Aspirants should focus on the jurisdictional overlaps between autonomous councils and state forest departments, and the statutory powers under Section 34A of the , which empowers forest officers to evict encroachers and remove unauthorized structures.
Geographical
The is geographically significant as a contiguous transboundary landscape sharing borders with Bhutan (contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park). It is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, making it a critical biodiversity hotspot characterized by a mix of tropical semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, and extensive alluvial grasslands. The encroachment in specific ranges like Panbari and Bhuyanpara disrupts wildlife corridors and fragments the habitat, which is detrimental to wide-ranging species like tigers and elephants. UPSC Prelims frequently tests the geographical location, transboundary nature, and the specific flora and fauna of major national parks. The fact that Manas is a National Park, a Tiger Reserve, a Biosphere Reserve, and an Elephant Reserve makes it highly relevant for map-based questions.