KAZIRANGA, Nov 12 - The introduction of organised boat riding on the Koliabhomora river bank of the Brahmaputra, inaugurated yesterday by Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya and Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, along with MLAs Brindaban Goswami and Rupak Sarma, is expected to attract tourists in large numbers to the site. During an interaction with this correspondent, Kaziranga National Park director P Shiva Kumar said, �Normally tourists coming from different parts of the globe are left with no option at Kaziranga other than jeep and elephant safari, notwithstanding their willingness to extend their stay at the park for more than two days.�
�Now, visitors coming to enjoy wildlife tourism at Kaziranga can extend their stay and enjoy boat ride on the Brahmaputra to possibly have a glimpse of the river dolphin, too, along with migratory avifauna.� Shiva Kumar said the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve has unique landscapes, which, too, should delight the tourists while enjoying natural beauty and wildlife. He said the revenue that the department would earn from boat riding at Koliabhomora would go to the Kaziranga Tiger Foundation, which would help in supporting over 300 casual employees. He said the stakeholders involved in the sector will greatly benefit from this development.
Arun Bignesh, DFO, Nagaon Wildlife Division, said that three destination sites have been selected for river riding from the Koliabhomora point � Jahajghat, Silghat and Ganeshghat. Dilawar Hussain, member secretary of the Laokhowa Bura Chapori Wildlife Conservation Society, said, �River riding has a huge tourism potential at Koliabhomora as it will help bring in more tourists.� Hussain felt that more needed to be done as far as beautification is concerned. More ornamental trees could be planted to make the place more attractive, he said, adding, in the near future, the department can also introduce a cruise ship so that tourists can visit the places of their interest.
