KALAIGAON, Dec 22 - In a major boost to eco-tourism sector in Assam, the members of JFMC (Joint Forest Management Committee), Bhairabkunda in Udalguri district are now ready to welcome tourists from India and abroad at the picturesque JFMC, Bhairabkunda man-made forest, spread over an area of 550 hectares near Dhansiri river.
The JFMC Bhairabkunda has already earned world-wide reputation with the plantation of more than 15 lakh valuable saplings which have grown now, virtually transforming the landscape of the area into a ever-green paradise sheltering various species of flora and fauna. The JFMC Bhairabkunda has won �Life time Achievement Award� from Kaziranga Wildlife Society in 2016 and Special Appreciation Award from Balipara Foundation in 2017.
The plantation process had started in 2007 in a plot of barren sandy land near Bhairabkunda. The 22.24 square kilometre area of Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest (RF) was left without a single tree by early 1980s due to rampant illegal felling of trees. People of six villages namely, No.1 Mazorgaon, No. 2 Mazorgaon, Bhairabpur, Goraimari, Sonaigaon, Sapangaon started the plantation drive in April, 2007 under the supervision of Naba Kumar Bordoloi, Range Officer, Bhairabkunda and within 10 years, a spectacular man-made forest known as Gedsimani JFMC came into existence with well-grown khoir, gamari, simul, sisum trees etc., near the Dhansiri river at Bhairabkunda, the meeting point of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.
The regenerated forest land now has a rich vegetation and has given shelter to wild elephants, leopards, deer, pythons, wild boars, monkeys, bear etc. A small river with several canals, a few of them man-made run through the forest providing replenishment for the green cover. Members of JFMC planted more than 15 lakh saplings which have now grown into big trees. The members of the JFMC have already developed the area as an ideal eco-tourism hub. With rivers crisscrossing the verdant Assam-Arunachal-Bhutan border and Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest providing some undulating trekking trails, the spot is bound to become attractive to tourists. The man-made forest has also been recognised as an ideal place for shooting of films and documentaries etc.
Esmail Daimari, secretary of the JFMC told this correspondent that they had arranged accommodation and meals for eight to ten people along with friends and family members including children in their JFMC camp with all the basic amenities during 2017-18 season for the first time. �People who love nature and love to stay away from hustle and bustle of town and city life, can enjoy a calm and serene atmosphere here,� Daimari said. He specially mentioned the contributions of State Food and Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs Minister Rihon Daimari; former Udalguri Deputy Commissioner, Thaneswar Malakar; MK Sarma, DFO, Udalguri; wildlife activist Jayanta Kumar Das; Kaziranga Wildlife Society, Aranyak, Assam; Sivashis Thakur of The Assam Tribune, Pranoy Bordoloi of Dy 365 and their constant support. Another member Bimal Daimari of the JFMC said that interested people can book rooms etc., well in advance. �Accommodation charge is minimum and sight seeing etc., can be arranged with our members at an additional charge,� Daimari said. He also said the there will be no security problems at all as their members would be with the visitors most of the time.
