Sharp reduction in rhino poaching cases due to efforts by people: Sonowal

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sowal on Monday said sharp reduction of rhi poaching cases in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) was due to relentless efforts of people of Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Sonitpur districts surrounding World Herit site. Without ir unconditional involvement to safeguard wildlife, bringing down rhi poaching would t have been possible, Sowal said while giving financial help to Eco-Development Committees at Burhapahar range of Kaziranga National Park.

chief minister said under project people living in fringe areas of KNP will be empowered to take up organic farming projects, watershed manment projects and fishery development schemes with a project outlay of Rs 24.56 crore. He provided financial help to 10 eco-development committees under Ecosystem Manment Project of Kaziranga National Park and its fringe areas. Sowal said people will have to lend ir hand for success of Kaziranga eco-system manment project. Sowal said bio-diversity of state cant be preserved without safeguarding sanctity of park.

Terming KNP as a symbol of pride and identity of people of Assam, Sowal said park has strengned state's reputation of being an epicentre of eco-tourism. Without protecting rich flora and fauna of Kaziranga National Park, Sowal said state will t be able to attract tourists both native and foreigners to Assam. chief minister said that Assam with its main rivers Brahmaputra and Barak along with ir 137 tributaries, nearly 2,500 small and big chars (riverine flood plain sediments) and innumerable tree species has presented a treasure-trove. people of state will have to extend ir cooperation to sustain rich bio-diversity, he said.

chief minister said that though COVID-19 pandemic has created an impediment to growth of state, it has also highlighted areas where Assam can become self- sufficient. With right kind of government intervention, Sowal said people of Assam will have to work in tandem with government ncies to make state a self-reliant one. He emphasised on need to fulfil local demands and n go forward to capture neighbouring markets of rth Eastern States as well as South-East Asian nations.

(Im credits: PTI)