DIGBOI, May 21 � State Minister of Environment, Forest and Welfare of Tea-tribes Atua Munda today declared renaming of the Digboi-Duliajan Road under Tinsukia district as the Patkai Bio-diversity Road to highlight the astonishing bio-diversity life within the Dehing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. He made the declaration in a largely-attended meeting held in the premises of Balijan LP School near here this afternoon.
The meeting was attended, among others, by DM Mathur, PCCF and Head of Forest Force, AK Singh, Additional PCCF, JM Kouli, Additional PCCF of Upper Assam Circle, S Tunglung, Conservator of Forests, stationed in Jorhat, senior forest officials of Tinsukia district, honorary wildlife wardens HN Sarma and G Konwar, public representatives, members of various NGOs etc.
RK Das, the DFO of Digboi division had earlier submitted the proposal along with public representatives to the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia district for re-christening the said road as Patkai-Biodiversity Road. As a sequel to the proposal, Puru Gupta, the Deputy Commissioner signed the declaration vide notification no. TPL.197/PT/iii/2013 dated May 20, 2015.
Munda, in his speech, also declared that his government was determined to protect and preserve the forest reserves of the State and the varieties of wildlife therein. He made an appeal to the residents of the forest villages to come up with a capacious protective agenda towards conservation and ecological harmony. At the same time, he assured that the State Forest Department would come up with an elaborate agenda for the development of the forest villages. The meeting was also addressed by DM Mathur, AK Singh, JM Kouli and HN Sarma. The meeting, which began with a chorus composed by RK Das with lyrics by Chayanika Dutta and presented by Balijan Mahila Samitee members, was presided over by Ashok Sharma, Golai, ZPC Member and a noted social activist.
Earlier, the minister with his accompanying officials visited the Digboi Arboretum at Bogapani and inaugurated the Oirawat Bhaban, a facility created for the forest battalion forces at Panbari under Kherjan Reserve.