BOKAKHAT, Nov 1 - The Eastern Range (Agoratoli) was formally declared open by J Ahmed, Conservator of Forests in the presence of Forest officials, ten French tourists and media persons this morning.
It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister had formally opened two ranges of KNP i.e., the Central Range, Kohora and Bagori on October 12 but due to inclement weather and deplorable conditions of the road inside the park, a limited distance had been allowed for jeep safaris. Today the Director of the Park P Siva Kumar speaking to the media said that tourists have been allowed to go up to Rongamatia forest camp of Agoratoli Range. Paralelly with the permission of Park authority, the elephant safari has also started from today.
Among others who were present on the occasion were, DFO R Gogoi, honorary District Wild Life Warden Uttam Saikia, BJP�s leading activist Animesh Saikia, ex Forest Officers DD Bodo, Selim Ahmed, Krishna Kanta Deuri and the present RO Bidyutbikash Bora. Prior to this, three French tourists broke coconuts ceremoniously to mark the occasion.
Our Kaziranga Correspondent adds: The elephant safari for taking tourists inside Kaziranga National Park was declared open by the Director of Kaziranga National Park-cum-Tiger Reserve P Shiva Kumar at Mihimukh under the Central Range, early in the morning today.
Speaking to media persons, Kumar informed that since the day Kaziranga National Park was officially declared open (jeep safari), on October 12, by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, 11000 tourists had already the park. The Kaziranga National Park earned a revenue of around Rs 23 lakh from the tourists who undertook a jeep safari inside the park.
The Director also informed that this year river tourism would be introduced between Bhomuraguri to Biswanath ghat. He hoped that this would enable more and more tourists inflow in Kaziranga. There were both domestic and international tourists which included tourists from France, Germany and Singapore.
Similarly, the elephant safari was also declared open at the western range of Bagori today.
