NEW DELHI, Dec 4 � Even as the heat over encroachment on the World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park (KNP) continues to rattle the Government, the Centre denied such reports but said new areas of the National Park are under encroachment.
But the Ministry of Environment and Forest admitted to encroachment in 10 other wildlife sanctuaries in Assam, revealing that 171 sqkm were under encroachment.
Replying to an unstarred question by Biren Baishya, Minister for Environment and Forest Jayanthi Natarajan said as informed by the Assam Government, there is no encroachment in the 496.93 sq km national Park.
However, subsequent additions to the KNP do have encroachments. Natarajan further added that other parks also have encroachments.
The Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest encroachment of 85 sq km.
