Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attributed the phenomenal reduction of rhino poaching cases in Assam to the relentless efforts of the people of Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Sonitpur districts.
He said that without their unconditional involvement to safeguard the wildlife, bringing down the rhino poaching would not have been possible.
The CM said this in a programme organised at Kaziranga National Park on Monday for providing financial help to the Eco-Development Committees.
In the programme, financial help was provided to 10 eco-development committees under the Ecosystem Management Project of Kaziranga National Park and its fringe areas.
Speaking on the occasion CM Sonowal said that under the project people living in the fringe areas will be empowered to take up organic farming projects, watershed management projects and fishery development projects with a project outlay of Rs. 24.56 crore.
He said that Kaziranga National Park sustains the rich bio-diversity and without safeguarding the sanctity of the Park, the unparallel bio-diversity of the State cannot be preserved.
Further observing Kaziranga National Park as a symbol of pride and identity of the people of Assam, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the Park has strengthened Assam’s reputation of being an epicentre of eco-tourism.
He said that without protecting the rich flora and fauna of Kaziranga National Park, the State won’t be able to attract tourists both native and foreigners to Assam.
He said that as the people living in the fringe areas of Kaziranga National Park put up brave resistance to rhino poaching similarly people will have to lend their hands for the success of Kaziranga eco-system management project.
CM Sonowal said that Assam with rivers like Brahmaputra and Barak and with their 137 tributaries, nearly 2500 small and big chars and tree species of innumerable numbers have presented a treasure-trove as the people of the state as always will have to extend their cooperation to sustain this rich bio-diversity.
Moreover, the Chief Minister made a fervent appeal to everybody to use this eco-system management project as an extension to Atmanirbhar Assam.
He said that though COVID-19 pandemic has created an impediment to the growth of the state, it has also highlighted the areas where Assam can become self-sufficient
He said that with the right kind of government intervention, people of Assam will have to work in tandem with the Government agencies to make Assam self-reliant.