Assam: Dehing Patkai now designated as National Park

Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to soon become a National Park. At a meeting convened today in Dispur, CM Sarbananda Sonowal directed wildlife officials to work towards it.

In that matter, CM Sonowal said, "Our Govt has decided to upgrade the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, which is home to a vast variety of flora and fauna, to a National Park. In a meeting with senior officials in Guwahati today, I have directed them to take necessary steps in this regard".

Dehing Patkai controversy

Earlier, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) gave the approval of a coal mining project to Coal India Limited (CIL) in the Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest (PRF), which is a part of the greater Dehing Patkai Rainforest. The NBWL is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the meeting was chaired by Union Minister Prakash Javedekar.

Following the decision by NBWL, the environmentalists, civil societies, and student communities have vehemently opposed the move. Twitter campaigns have been run by various groups that have put commendable constraints. The media has also reported about the developments. The opposition mounted pressure on the govt to which Assam CM has directed the state Forest Minister to take stock of the situation.

Wildlife Sanctuary vs National Park

Wildlife sanctuary can be understood as the regions where wildlife and their habitat is protected from any disturbance. Conversely, a National park is the area of countryside, which is specifically designated for wildlife, where they can live freely and use natural resources.

Also read: The draft EIA can impact Assam’s environment. Here’s how

Wildlife Sanctuaries are famous for the conservation of wildlife, which includes animals, insects, microorganisms, birds, etc. of different genes and species. On the other hand, National Parks are highly known preserving the flora, fauna, landscape and historical objects.

Wildlife Sanctuaries aims at ensuring that a substantial population of the wildlife and their habitats are maintained. As against, National Parks safeguards the environmental, scenic and cultural heritage of the region.

When it comes to restrictions, national parks are highly restricted areas, which are not open to all the people, whereas wildlife sanctuaries have lesser restrictions than national parks.

To visit national parks, official permission is to be taken from the requisite authorities. In contrast, no official permission is to be taken to visit a wildlife sanctuary.

Boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries are not sacrosanct. However, the national parks have clearly marked boundaries.

Readers like you make Inside Northeast’s work possible.

To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.

Download:

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast.