JORHAT/GUWAHATI, Oct 10: Union Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan on Wednesday announced a fund of Rs 1 crore for the infrastructural development of Kaziranga National Park’s (KNP) tiger reserve area. She also assured 24-hour security arrangements in KNP for protection of wildlife, providing nine speed boats and a battery-powered aircraft.
Natarajan, accompanied by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain and senior wildlife officials, visited the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Wednesday to take stock of the situation there following the recent spate of rhino killings in the park.
The Union Minister visited the Mihimukh area of KNP and expressed concern over the recent rhino deaths.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Wildlife, Kaziranga, NK Basu told the Union Minister that KNP needed 200 additional trained frontline staff for protection of wildlife. He said that to prevent poachers coming in from the tiger reserve area, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Sonitpur districts, anti-poaching camps had to be set up.
Basu also appealed to the Union Minister for building highland areas within the park where animals could be shifted in times of floods and building flyovers within the park area.
Natarajan assured NK Basu that flyovers and highland areas would be built within KNP.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi expressed hope that the Centre and the State Government would together take up steps to protect KNP. Rockybul Hussain submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister wherein was listed all the problems being faced by the KNP authorities.
