Assam's Dehing Patkai accorded 'National Park' status after protests

TINSUKIA: From today onwards, Dehing Patkai or Dihing Patkai has been accorded the status of a National Park under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Formerly known as a Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, the people of Assam wanted this protected to be accorded the status of National Park after rampant coal mining activities sparked a spate of protests in the state.

With the up-gradation, new rules will limit human activities within the periphery of the Dehing Patkai National Park from now on.

On July 6, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had directed top government officials to take necessary steps to upgrade the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a vast variety of flora and fauna, to a national park.

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In order to expedite the process, Sonowal directed the forest department to prepare a draft notification and hold a public hearing to take the views of local dwellers residing around the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sonowal also instructed to prepare an action plan for preserving the adjoining areas of the wildlife sanctuary and include the opinion of the public in the adjoining areas in the draft action plan.

Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam and covers an area of 111.19 square km rainforest. It was declared a sanctuary on June 13, 2004.

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