Assam forest department targets to plant 2 crore saplings this year
Assam forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma on Wednesday said that, the state forest department has already started plantation drives across the state and target to plant over 2 crore saplings.
“In last financial year, the state forest department had planted saplings at around 10492 hectares land across the state. Now we are planning to plant more saplings in the state. Recently we have started plantation drives at 750 hectares land under Assam project on forest and biodiversity conservation (APFBC) and 400 hectares land with help from National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC),” Pramila Rani Brahma said.
While took part in a plantation drive held at the Bhimashankar temple, outskirts of Guwahati, the Assam forest minister said that, the state forest department has also planned to create a high tech nursery in the state in this year.
On the other hand, Pramila Rani Brahma said that, to protect the one horned rhinoceros and fight against poachers, the forest guards in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) will soon be equipped with sophisticated weapons.
“The forest department has started to procure 272 numbers Insas rifle, 847 numbers SLR, 133 numbers 12 bore rifle, 91 numbers AK-Ghatak rifle, 20 numbers 9mm pistol for the forest guards,” Brahma said.
Pramila Rani Brahma further said that, the state forest department will appoint 112 special guards for the world heritage site within next short period.
Assam had lost over 300 rhinos in past one and half decades which were poached.
The Assam forest minister further said that, her department has planned to install three electronic eyes under Burhapahar range in the national park to check the poacher activities in and outside of the park.
On the other hand, the KNP authorities have started work of 33 highlands for the wild animals eying to save wild animals during flood.
In last year, over 250 animals, including 20 one horned rhinos were died in flood in the national park.
The Assam forest also said that, her department will create a special park in the Bhimashankar temple premises.
West Guwahati MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita, top officials of state forest department were present in the plantation drive at the temple.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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