Setting aside newspaper reports of tiger poaching, Assam environment and forest minister Rockybul Hussain referred the initial report of Aranyak and Wildlife Institute of India which in its ongoing tiger census has found the presence of more than 24 tigers in every 100 sq km area of Kaziranga National Park.

He said, "They have informed us that it was their conservative estimate. The density may be more than this." The minister also claimed to have clinched a major deal for its wildlife sanctuaries by signing a tripartite agreement with union environment and forest ministry for setting up three tiger foundations in the state.

Mr Hussain also announced that ministry has granted them Rs 6.40 crore to relocate the families living inside Manas Tiger Reserve. He said, "We will give one-time-compensation of Rs 10,000 to every family and relocate them to new places outside the tiger reserve."

He said that environment and forest ministry has also agreed to provide them Rs 1.56 crore for development of Kaziranga National Park. The money will come to Tiger foundation for which a tripartite agreement has been signed in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Mr Hussain however admitted that Tiger Foundation being set up at Kaziranga National Park may divert the focus of tourist from one horned rhinos. "We have asked New Delhi to allow us to set up a rhino foundation at Kaziranga in addition to Tiger foundation so that attention of tourist is not diverted from the real treasure of the national park," he said.

The minister also informed that Assam is among the nine states in the country which will get the first installments of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund.