Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said that the government is committed towards the biodiversity of the state and Dehing Patkai situation being assessed.
“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,” Sonowal told reporters in Dibrugarh.
“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,” Sonowal said.
The Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across an area of 111.19 sq km that falls under Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.
The National Board for Wildlife’s (NBWL) recently approved a coal mining project in Saleki area of the wildlife sanctuary.
From AASU to India’s Forest Man Jadav Payeng and from actor Adil Hussain to singer Angarag Papon Mahanta, wildlife activists and environmentalists have criticized the NBWL decision to allow mining of coal in the Dehing Patkai rain forest.