NEW DELHI, May 23 - Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar held the Assam Government responsible for its failure to protect rhinos in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) from poachers.
Holding that the Congress-ruled Assam Government had failed to utilise the sanctioned funds, the minister said that the Tarun Gogoi Government dragged its feet in raising the Special Rhino Protection Force. According to government records at least 123 rhinos were poached in KNP since 2006.
Javadekar expressed his confidence that the new BJP government under Sarbananda Sonowal would be able to stop the killing of rhinos in Assam, which, he said, was a serious problem.
Addressing media on the completion of two years of the NDA Government on Monday, Javadekar said during the last two years the forest cover in the country has increased. The forest cover in the country is presently 21 per cent and the target is 33 per cent, he said, adding, it is possible only through tree cover outside forest area. He also outlined the afforestation measures, including the CAMPA Bill.
