Minister for Environment and Forests Surveys Kaziranga National Park Announces Measures for Relief
Besides making an aerial survey of the landscape, the Minister visited the reserve along with the Chief Minister and the Forest Minister of Assam, accompanied by officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Division of the Ministry, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and State Chief Wildlife Warden, Field Director-Kaziranga and other officials.
The Minister reviewed of the mitigation measures undertaken by the State to address the flood situation at ‘Kohra’. Subsequently, she undertook a field visit inside the reserve at ‘Mihimukh’.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan along with Shri Tarun Gogoi also reviewed the impact of floods upon the wildlife at Kaziranga - the mortalities, of all the different wildlife, and future ameliorative measures were some of the issues in focus.
The Minister for Environment & Forests held wide ranging discussions regarding the recent incidents of poaching, particularly the brutal incidents of poaching involving the rhinoceros which were fleeing to high ground for shelter from floods. She expressed satisfaction that in most of the cases, the investigations led to arrests and booking of cases, and requested that the prosecution and further investigation should be completed early, and strong punishment under law meted out to the perpetrators. She also reviewed further steps to be taken to prevent poaching in future particularly surveillance being increased during sensitive times like floods, and greater coordination between various agencies such as the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, the Park Authorities, the Police and the State Government. She directed that there should be continuous exchange of information and synergy in their actions which would contribute a great deal towards curtailment of poaching.
The Minister appreciated the ongoing efforts done by the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve Management and the State, while emphasizing the need for long term initiatives like providing flyovers on NH-37 to provide safe passage for wild animals and stepping up protection in adjoining areas.
The minister announced that a grant of Rs. 1 crore would be provided to Kaziranga for procurement of four speed boats and five country boats to address the flood situation and, to prevent poaching.
She alsoassured that under Project Tiger, assistance would be provided to the reserve for developing a system of 24X7 ‘electronic surveillance’ as done in the case of Corbett Tiger Reserve, assisting a pilot project for the use of unmanned aircraft towards surveillance for strengthening protection and assistance for addressing issues relating to human-wild animal conflicts and livelihood of people living in the peripheral buffer areas of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
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