Execute curbs on fishing in Kaziranga: HC to forest dept

Guwahati: Gauhati high court has directed state govt to enforce prohibitory order to curb large scale fishing in the water bodies of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Stating that the “matter requires immediate attention of the state authorities”, the court directed the forest department standing counsel to file an affidavit stating the steps taken to prevent such activities in the national park by Jan 7.

The order was passed by the court of Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury during a hearing of a PIL recently. The PIL was filed by Rohit Choudhury, seeking urgent judicial intervention to curb large scale fishing in the water bodies in the park.

Petitioner’s advocate A Phukan told the court that people in multitude enter the park annually during Magh Bihu, which is celebrated in mid-Jan and carry out their traditional practices, which includes fishing in the water bodies in the Kaziranga National Park.

He submitted that this is in flagrant violation of the wildlife protection laws and has a cascading effect which disrupts the already fragile ecosystem of the park.

The advocate added that such action pose threats to the biodiversity, including the endangered species like one-horned rhinoceros, migratory birds and approximately 42 species of fish.

Meanwhile, D Gogoi, standing counsel of the forest department, submitted before the court that the department is cognizant of the issue and, therefore, prohibitory orders have been issued regularly to control such illegal fishing in the water bodies in Kaziranga National Park.

“However, there appears to be some difficulty in executing such prohibitory orders for the reason of the large number of people congregating at that site with religious fervour,” the advocate added.

The court observed that the protection of such a site is necessary or else there would be a violation of Wildlife protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980; and breach of various constitutional obligations under Article 48A of the Constitution of India and of international obligations as well.

“We, therefore, deem it necessary to direct that the necessary prohibitory orders must be enforced,” the court stated, while directing advocate Gogoi to put on record the steps taken by the state authorities in controlling such activities in the kaziranga National Park and the ways in which such activities could be effectively controlled.

Stating that the matter requires immediate attention of the state authorities, the court directed the forest department counsel to file the affidavit by the next date as to the steps taken for preventing such activities in the first and second week of Jan in the Kaziranga National Park.