By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inspected the highlands created in the Kaziranga National Park for fauna living in the World Heritage Site for providing them respite from the perennial flood in the state. Visiting Agoratoli Range of the park, Sonowal inspected the highlands and asked Forest Department to ensure safe shelter, adequate food and treatment to the animals affected by the flood. It may be noted that the Forest Department has already erected 33 highlands in Kaziranga National Park and 10 of them fell in Agoratoli Range. Visiting Agoratoli Range for the first time, Chief Minister Sonowal directed Forest Department to ensure that from now onwards, the animals in the National Park take refuge on the highlands without being strayed in the unsafe areas because of the impact of surging water during flood. He also asked the department to make adequate quantity of food stuff ready for the animals.

He also asked functionaries of park authority to create amenities for the tourists including revamping roads in the Agoratoli range. He also directed the authority to take steps for making the 1.2 km Sohola Beel attractive for the tourists. After visiting the highlands, Chief Minister Sonowal had a meeting with the park authority, Forest Department and local administration and discussed issues regarding making the entire stretch of the National Park more attractive for the tourists. He also asked Forest Department to prepare exclusive profiles for Kohora, Bagori and Agoratoli Range which according to him would serve as the ready- reckoner to the tourists both domestic and foreign. Sonowal also asked the Forest Department and local administration to use the service of fringe area people of Kaziranga National Park to work together for working on a common platform where the tourists would get the taste and feel of local delicacies, custom, culture, traditions and way of life. At the same time, Sonowal asked the park authority to ensure that the presence of tourists do not affect the natural habitat of the flora fauna. He also reiterated on the need of constructing a helipad near the Kaziranga National Park for the convenience of the tourists and assured to extend all government helps. Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Chairman Assam State Minority Welfare Board Mominul Awal, senior officers of Forest Department, Kaziranga National Park Authority and local administrations were present during Chief Minister’s visit to the park.