GUWAHATI, Oct 2 � Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain today came down heavily on the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for allegedly trying to tarnish the image of the government by casting doubts on its sincerity to protect wildlife.
Appealing to all section of the population to feel proud of the State�s rich wildlife that has earned international fame and to support the government�s initiatives at conservation, the minister said that his department has taken up many measures to protect wildlife, including deployment of additional Assam Forest Protection Force personnel in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
Addressing media persons here, the minister said that a section of organisations, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has been hurling abusive remarks at his department regarding protection of wildlife.
�We have embarked on a mission to conserve wildlife and our efforts have yielded the desired results. We, however, acknowledge that there is much to do in this regard and are open to criticism which should be constructive,� said Hussain regretting that the AGP has been very vituperative and raising the issue of rhino deaths in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in a manner that was not rational at all.
The minister reminded that during the regime of the AGP, there weren�t much concerted efforts to conserve wildlife.
Hussain said that conservation efforts have been stepped up at KNP and the positive results have been appreciated by the international agencies involved with conservation.
�To bring down poaching in KNP, we have beefed up our security measures,� said Hussain. A 50-member Assam Forest Protection Force was sent to KNP today and the minister informed that another 50-member group of the Assam Forest Protection Force would be sent to KNP by October 6. It needs to be mentioned here that so far this year, 11 rhinoceros of KNP have been killed by poachers. Out of the 2,505 rhinos in the State, 2,290 are inside KNP.
On the other hand, Hussain said that the department is taking all possible steps to rescue the rhino of Pobitora washed away by flood waters to Sualkuchi Rani Chapori.
�As there are some problems in regard to tranquilizing the animal under the present circumstances, we are awaiting the expert committee report for airlifting and airdropping. The expert committee report is expected to come by later this evening and we would act accordingly,� the minister said.
The minister appealed to the citizens not to disturb this rhino as well as the other animals straying away from their habitats on account of the recent flood.
Hussain further divulged that the bullets retrieved from the body of the rhinos killed in the Kaziranga National Park by poachers were of AK 47 rifles.
GUWAHATI, Oct 2 � Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain today came down heavily on the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for allegedly trying to tarnish the image of the government by casting doubts on its sincerity to protect wildlife.
Appealing to all section of the population to feel proud of the State�s rich wildlife that has earned international fame and to support the government�s initiatives at conservation, the minister said that his department has taken up many measures to protect wildlife, including deployment of additional Assam Forest Protection Force personnel in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
Addressing media persons here, the minister said that a section of organisations, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), has been hurling abusive remarks at his department regarding protection of wildlife.
�We have embarked on a mission to conserve wildlife and our efforts have yielded the desired results. We, however, acknowledge that there is much to do in this regard and are open to criticism which should be constructive,� said Hussain regretting that the AGP has been very vituperative and raising the issue of rhino deaths in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in a manner that was not rational at all.
The minister reminded that during the regime of the AGP, there weren�t much concerted efforts to conserve wildlife.
Hussain said that conservation efforts have been stepped up at KNP and the positive results have been appreciated by the international agencies involved with conservation.
�To bring down poaching in KNP, we have beefed up our security measures,� said Hussain. A 50-member Assam Forest Protection Force was sent to KNP today and the minister informed that another 50-member group of the Assam Forest Protection Force would be sent to KNP by October 6. It needs to be mentioned here that so far this year, 11 rhinoceros of KNP have been killed by poachers. Out of the 2,505 rhinos in the State, 2,290 are inside KNP.
On the other hand, Hussain said that the department is taking all possible steps to rescue the rhino of Pobitora washed away by flood waters to Sualkuchi Rani Chapori.
�As there are some problems in regard to tranquilizing the animal under the present circumstances, we are awaiting the expert committee report for airlifting and airdropping. The expert committee report is expected to come by later this evening and we would act accordingly,� the minister said.
The minister appealed to the citizens not to disturb this rhino as well as the other animals straying away from their habitats on account of the recent flood.
Hussain further divulged that the bullets retrieved from the body of the rhinos killed in the Kaziranga National Park by poachers were of AK 47 rifles.
