A Supreme Court panel requests a response from the Assam government regarding a trash factory close to Kaziranga National Park.
“The Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the Assam government to submit its response within four weeks regarding the controversial waste management site near Kaziranga National Park. This follows a petition challenging the construction of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and a Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) at Latabari in Bokakhat, raising concerns that the project could threaten the park’s fragile ecosystem. Environmentalist Rohit Choudhury warned that the site, located just 60 to 70 metres from the Difaloo River—a key water source flowing through Kaziranga—poses serious risks of contamination and ecological damage. Despite earlier environmental clearance with conditions to prevent pollution, an inspection found the facility non-operational and its environmental impact unassessed. The CEC has given the Assam government four weeks to justify the project or propose an alternative, with upcoming hearings to decide if the facility should be relocated away from the eco-sensitive zone.”

