Assam’s Kaziranga National Park on Sunday got over 1,400 sophisticated arms to deal with the wildlife crimes, including the poaching of one-horned rhinos.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal distributed 272 INSAS rifles, 954 Self loading Rifles, 133 12-bore Pump Action Guns, twenty 9-mm pistols and 91 ghatak rifles among the forest personnel. The modern weapons would enable the forest personnel to carry out their duties in a more effective manner, the Chief Minister said.
In State Budget 2016-17, the Assam Government had kept a provision of Rs 10 crore for purchase of modern arms for forest department under the scheme “Modernisation of arms and equipment for protection of tiger reserves and rhino-bearing protected areas of the State”. Another Rs 10 crore has also been kept in the 2017-18 Budget for purchase of more such arms and equipment in the coming days.
“The local community and particularly the youth must join hands with the Government to keep surrounding areas of Kaziranga National Park clean. The visitors of the park must take away a good impression of the State and its people,” the Chief Minister said, while calling on the Forest Department to win the trust of the people through dedication and sincerity.
Sonowal said that the Government will take steps to solve grievances of the forest personnel, particularly the frontline staff who had to work under difficult conditions particularly during floods season.
He also said that the bad reputation earned by the department due to tainted officials must be removed by hard work and determination of the employees of the department and trust of the people of the State must be won back.
He also hinted initiatives like new uniform for shaping a smart forest guard force and imparting of intensive training for handling modern arms and directed Forest and Environment Minister Pramila Rani Brahma to take action for setting up an international standard convention centre at Kaziranga at an early date.
Highlighting the Government’s commitment to protect the wildlife and forests of the State, the Chief Minister said 10 Wildlife Fast Track Courts have been set up in the State for speedy proceedings against poachers and wildlife criminals. He also directed the Forest Department to devise mechanism for enabling more youths near Kaziranga and other reserve forests and sanctuaries to earn better livelihood through tourism. He also urged the department to work dedicatedly to stop illegal felling of trees and ensure supply of construction materials for infrastructure development projects.