Two Assam forest employees die in road mishap

According to reports, the employees identified as Sunil Mandal and Pradip Sarkar were travelling on a motorcycle to attend the function were killed when they were knocked down by a speedy vehicle at Kuthori area at National Highway 37.

Following the incident, local people had blocked the National Highway for several hours protest against the incident and demanded that the highway be widened to four-lane to Kaziranga National Park.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who inaugurated the Vana Mahotsava, condoled the death of the two forest employees and said that the state government would ensure all possible help including an ex-gratia payment to the next of the kin of decease at the earliest.

To add momentum to the government’s endeavour of making Assam greener, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as a part of the 68th Vana Mahotsava celebration, ceremonially launched Avenue Plantation Programme along the national highway from Kaliabor Tiniali to Bokakhat at a programme held at Kaliabor and Jakhalabondha on Saturday.
      
Inaugurating the State level 68th Vana Mahotsava celebration at Muktijujaru Bhawan in Kaliabor, Sonowal said that the State Government is committed to a pollution free environment which according to him would be the right manifestation of parivartan that the people of Assam have endorsed.

Sonowal also said that synchronising with the 68th Vana Mahotsava, state government would plant 10 crore saplings throughout the length and breadth of the State.
          
Addressing the gathering, Sonowal said, "Plantation is our national duty and under any circumstances Assam won’t be lagging behind in performing its national duty."

“Plantation of 10 crore saplings is our endeavour which would augur well in making Assam greener and free from pollution,” Sonowal said.
       
Sonowal also called upon the students’ fraternity, teachers and parents to shoulder the responsibility to plant saplings and contribute to the State’s growth in organic sector.

He also said that the State has a rich repository of medicinal plants and an organised effort would be a force multiplier to use Assam’s abundant variety of flora in producing medicines and promoting the health and hygiene of the people.

“Realising the huge potential of the region’s organic resources, even Prime Minster of the country Narendra Modi has also termed North East as the New Engine for New India,” Sonowal said.
          
The Assam CM also said that trees are deterrent to flood and erosion and large scale plantation besides helping the State to take a giant leap in its development can help it in tackling flood and flood induced erosion.

He also emphasised that large scale plantation is also a way towards creating village tourism and generating employment opportunities.
       
Sonowal also said that State Government is working on a holistic approach for the development of historic Kolong Waterway and informed that this year’s budget has already sanctioned Rs. 10 crore for the purpose.

He also released a Contingency Flood Manual-2017 for Kaliabor Sub-Division at the same function.
         
Minister for Environment and Forest etc Pramila Rani Brahma, Minister for Water Resources etc Keshab Mahanta, Minister of Agriculture etc Atul Bora also spoke on the occasion.

MLA, Nagaon Rupak Sharma, MLA Morigaon, Ramakanta Deuri, MLA Sootea Padma Hazarika, MLA Raha Dimbeswar Das, Additional Chief Secretary KV Eapen, senior officers of the Forest Department and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)