GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday inspected the highlands created at the Kaziranga National Park for animals to take refuge during floods.
During a visit to the Agoratoli range of the world heritage site, Sonowal also asked the state forest department to ensure safe shelter, adequate food and treatment to the animals affected by floods, an official statement issued here said.
It may be noted that the forest dpartment has already erected 33 highlands at the national park and 10 of them were under Agoratoli range.
The chief minister directed the department to ensure that animals in the national park take refuge on the highlands without being strayed in the unsafe areas because of the impact of surging water during flood.
He also asked functionaries of park authority to create amenities for tourists including revamping roads at Agoratoli range besides directing them to take steps for making the 1.2 km Sohola Beel attractive to visitors.
Later, Sonowal had a meeting with the park authority, forest department and local administration and discussed issues regarding making the entire stretch of the national park more attractive for tourists.
The forest department was directed to prepare exclusive profiles for Kohora, Bagori and Agoratoli ranges, which according to the chief minister would serve as a ready-reckoner for tourists, domestic and foreign.
Sonowal further instructed the forest department and local administration to use the service of residents of the periphery areas to create a common platform where tourists would get the taste and feel of local delicacies, customs, culture, traditions and way of life.
At the same time, the chief minister asked the park authority to ensure that the presence of tourists does not affect the natural habitat of the flora and fauna.
He also reiterated the need of constructing a helipad near the park for the convenience of tourists and assured to extend all support.
State agriculture minister, Atul Bora, chairman of Assam State Minority Welfare Board Mominul Awal, senior officials of forest department, Kaziranga National Park and local administration were present during the inspection.