The Golaghat district administration has imposed restriction on parking along the stretch of NH-37 that passes through Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
The stretch of the highway from Barjuri to Bagori has been declared as a ‘No Parking Zone’.
“The prohibition on parking is imposed under section 144 of the CrPC and it is meant basically for commercial goods carrying vehicles,” informed Golaghat DC Dhirendra Nath Hazarika.
“A number of illegal parking has flourished along the highway and some of them were restricting the movement of wildlife crossing through the animal corridors,” the DC reiterated.
“We have also been reported that under the disguise of parking zones some anti-social activities are being carried out,” Hazarika added.
“The National Green Tribunal has also given a directive to regulate the movement of traffic on the roads used by animals as corridors for going from one sector of KNP to another,” Hazarika added.
Regarding the parking of vehicles used by tourists to visit KNP, Hazarika said that those and other passenger-carrying vehicles are being exempted from the restriction.
After the promulgation of 144 on parking, a joint team consisting of officials from transport, police and forest department has instructed the owners of restaurants and roadside dhabas to clear the vehicles from their parking areas.
They were also cautioned to not let the people park their vehicles in their premises otherwise, legal action will be initiated against them.
At the time when the flow of tourists to the world heritage site KNP is being hit by the ongoing protest against the CAA, this move is seen as another jolt for the restaurant and Dhaba owners of Kaziranga.