GUWAHATI, Oct 7 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today announced that steps had been taken to link the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary with Jeypore Reserve Forest and upgrade it into a national park with additional areas. The Chief Minister also announced that the State government has decided to increase forest reserves of the State by another 2,000 sq km. Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the 66th Wildlife Week at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Sonowal said that Assam, which is famous for its clean and green ambience, has to be re-strengthened with the new addition.
He also said that the State government would set up an Institute of Wildlife Health and Research at Dinjan in Dibrugarh district.
Moreover, as in Kaziranga and Manas national parks, all wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forest camps would be provided with solar lights and smart phones. He added that the State government has already decided to set up a forest division at Borail range. Sonowal also shared the government�s decision to announce the rainforests of Jonai as a wildlife sanctuary. The Chief Minister said that the State government has been taking a slew of steps for preserving the natural resources and wildlife of the State.
Emphasizing on the importance of flora and fauna in enriching the nature, he said that everybody should take the responsibility for the protection of plants and animals. He added that as a result of the steps, the rich biodiversity of the State has been drawing wildlife enthusiasts from across the world.
Taking on the previous government for not doing anything substantial for stopping rhino poaching, Sonowal said that under the erstwhile government, the poachers turned the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries into their pasture lands.
However, the present State government immediately after coming to power took proactive steps for stopping rhino poaching.
�During the present State government�s rule, 240 poachers were handed exemplary punishments by setting up 10 fast-track courts. The flow of tourists into the State has increased phenomenally as a result of neutralizing the poachers and the resultant increase of the wildlife population in Assam,� he said.
Asserting that the government�s uncompromising tirade against corruption will continue unrelentingly, the Chief Minister said that politicians and government officers whosoever is found indulged in corruption will not be spared.
Speaking on the occasion, Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that the State government has already planted eight crore saplings in the State to contribute to its green coverage.
