KAZIRANGA, Oct 21 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday declared the Kaziranga National Park open for tourists by lighting a ceremonial lamp at Mihimukh gate under Central range of the park. However, the jeep safari was allowed up to certain points both at Central range of Kohora ( Kaziranga) and Western range of Bagori under Kaziranga National Park. In Kohora, the jeep safari has been allowed up to Vaishamari and in Bagori, it was up to Dunga watch tower point and �Bimoli tiniali�.
Sonowal took a jeep safari up to Kathpora watch tower point where he interacted with mediapersons present there. Sonowal said that with the opening of Kaziranga National Park from today onwards, unemployed youths of Kaziranga who have been involved in tourism business could now earn their livelihood amid the pandemic. Sonowal, however, cautioned the people to maintain COVID-19 protocol strictly for the safety of everyone while visiting Kaziranga National Park.
Sonowal made an appeal to all involved in tourism sector in Kaziranga to make a conducive atmosphere so that visitors visiting Kaziranga can enjoy wildlife safari.
He expressed the hope that livelihood of local people of Kaziranga would be improved and more income could be generated through tourism business.
Sonowal appealed to the mediapersons to send out a strong and positive message on reopening of Kaziranga National Park for the current season to enable people living in different parts of the world visit Kaziranga following all kinds of COVID-19 protocol.
He said that local population living in and around Kaziranga, including those of Biswanath, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur and Nagaon districts, should come forward and extend their cooperation and hospitality to the visiting guests in Kaziranga and help the ever-growing tourism industry.
Sonowal said that with the active role played by the administrations of five adjoining districts in and around Kaziranga and forest and police departments, poaching has been significantly controlled. He added that this was also possible because of the proactive role played by media and local people of Kaziranga.
Sonowal said that more than 200 poachers have been arrested and some 17 poachers have already been convicted by fast-track court set up by the State government.
Chief Minister was accompanied by Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Water Resource Minister Keshav Mahanta and host of forest, civil, and police officials. Later, Minister Keshav Mahanta opened the jeep safari at Bagori and took a jeep safari to a limited point.
