Guwahati:Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has directed the administration of five districts adjoining the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) to ensure the protection of wildlife from poaching and provide adequate relief to animals during the flood.
Considering the setback faced by the tourism sector during the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown, Sonowal also asked the officials to prepare a plan to rejuvenate tourism at the Kaziranga National Park, declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The chief minister said that this while reviewing preparation of Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath and Karbi Anglong districts on wildlife protection during the forthcoming monsoon season in a meeting, held at Kaziranga in Golaghat district, on Tuesday.
To strengthen anti-poaching drive at the park famed for one-horned rhinoceros, the chief minister asked the district administration and the forest department to engage village headmen, tea garden sardars and people with strong grass-root connection living in the adjoining areas in the wildlife protection endeavours.
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Mentioning that Kaziranga National Park has global importance, Sonowal said that any untoward incident that takes place in the park draws the attention of the people worldwide.
Due to united efforts of the administration and forest officials of the five districts adjoining the park, rhino poaching could be considerably reduced in last four years, he said.
He also directed the civil and police administration as well as the forest department to continue their efforts unabated.
Noting that the Assam governments strong measures have led to a considerable drop in the number of poaching at the park, Sonowal said, fast track courts set up by Guwahati High Court as per the state governments request have so far convicted several poachers and handed them exemplary punishment.
He observed that steps of this kind have instilled fear in the mind of poachers and left a positive impact on wildlife protection.