JONAI, Jan 27 � Preparations are afoot to hold the first ever �Poba Mahotsav� here under the aegis of Poba Reserve Forest Coordination Committee (PRFCC) with a three-day programme from February 5 next, informed committee sources.
The objective of holding the Mahotsav is to generate awareness among the local people on conservation of wildlife and other natural resources in the remaining forest cover of the Poba Reserve Forest (RF), situated on the bank of the mighty Siang river, and to intensify the existing demand for declaration of the reserve forest as a �wildlife sanctuary�.
The three-day programme would include photo exhibition on wildlife, nursery mela, exhibition-cum-sale of traditional attires, traditional food festival and drawing competition among schoolchildren, besides discussions on various ecological issues of the area by environmentalists.
The concluding day�s programme would include a cultural exchange among different ethnic groups. The Poba Maohotsav is being funded by the Mising Autonomous Council.
The Poba RF, under the Dhemaji Territorial Forest Division, is home to different varieties of flora and fauna. The water bodies on the upper reaches of the reserve forest are close to the Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh and the Dibru Saikhowa National Park across the mighty Brahmaputra river.
Stressing that the rich biodiversity and natural endowments in the remaining forest covers fulfil all criteria required for a wildlife sanctuary status, several local organizations have been demanding of the state government to conduct a proper survey and documentation of the reserve forest.
Meanwhile, a 15-member coordination committee for protection of the Poba reserve forest has been constituted, including the Dhemaji DC as the chief patron and the Divisional Forest Officer (T) of Dhemaji as the chief convener.
