Government is committed to protect Assam’s environment and biodiversity: Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said that government is committed to protect Assam’s environment and biodiversity.

“We are committed to protect Assam’s environment and biodiversity. No one should cast aspersions on state government’s sincerity to preserve the natural beauty, greenery and natural resources of the state. I have directed forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya to visit Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to take stock of the actual situation and the state government would take further steps in this regard based on Forest Minister’s report.” Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said this while talking to media persons in Dibrugarh.

There is opposition from different quarters to coal mining at Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. Ministry of Forest and Environment, Government of India recently permitted Coal India Ltd of Margherita of Assam to go for open cast mining of coal in the Dehing Patkai Hills region.

The Chief Minister visited four quarantine facilities which were being readied as second tier of quarantine centres for COVID-19 patients.

Sonowal urged the people to strictly maintain COVID-19 protocols and he appealed to those who are being quarantine not to violate any quarantine rules. Violation of quarantine norms does not only affect the patients but also jeopardizes the whole society and therefore, the government have no other option but to take action against those violators of home or institutional quarantine.

He also informed that state government was taking steps to set up quarantine centres till the panchayat level and he urged the people of the state to extend wholehearted support to the government so that this outbreak of the global pandemic can be contained.