Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat on Sunday praised the people of Assam, which is going for Assembly election in March-April 2021 and in particular, the people of Kaziranga, for the rise in the number of waterfowls.

The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve Authority has been carrying out its Annual Waterfowls Census for some time.

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This Census reveals that this time the number of water birds has increased by about one hundred seventy-five percent compared to last year.

A total of 112 species of birds have been sighted in Kaziranga National Park during this Census.

And of these, 58 species happen to be winter migrants from different parts of the world including Europe, Central Asia and East Asia.

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Prime Minister Modi also spoke about the ‘Forest man of India’ Jadav Payeng, who received the Padma Shri for his contribution to raise about 300 hectares of plantations in Majuli Island.

Payeng has been constantly working for forest conservation and is also involved in motivating people for Plantation and conservation of biodiversity.

Modi said the temples in Assam are also playing a unique role in the protection of nature.

He said every temple has a pond in the vicinity.

The Hayagriva Madhav Temple at Hajo, the Nagashankar Temple at Sonitpur and the Ugratara Temple at Guwahati have many such ponds nearby.

They are being used to save near extinct species of turtles. Assam is home to the highest number of species of turtles.

Prime Minister Modi said the ponds of these temples can become excellent sites for their conservation, breeding and training about them.