GUWAHATI: Assam has decided to take necessary steps to upgrade the
Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary into national park
Assam Chief Minister
Sarbananda Sonowal a meeting with the officials of Forest Department. In order to expedite the process of upgrading Dehing Patkai into a national park, the Chief Minister directed the forest department to prepare a draft notification and hold public hearing to take the views of local dwellers residing around the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.
He also instructed to prepare action plan for preserving the adjoining areas of the wildlife sanctuary and include the opinion of the public in the adjoining areas in the draft action plan. Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 111.942 square kilometers.
The Chief Minister reiterated the state government commitment’s to preserve the national resources and environment of the state and highlighted Dehing Patkai’s role in maintaining forest cover in Assam. He also directed the forest department to take necessary action for up-grading Dehing Patkai into national park in consultation with
Union Environment and Forest Ministry.
It is to be mentioned that the total number of national parks in Assam would increase to six after the up-gradation of Dehing Patkai into a national park.
The Division Bench of Gauhati High Court has recently accepted the Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed in connection with
coal mining in the Dehing Patkai forest.
The rain forest known as Amazon of East is home to Asiatic elephants.
North Eastern Coalfields (NEC) the Assam based coal producing unit of
Coal India limited (CIL) earlier stated that it is in the process of complying with stipulations and conditions laid down by the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) and Ministry of Environment & Forest and
Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for mining Coal in Tikak Open Cast Project, falling under Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest of Digboi in Assam.