Guwahati, June 11: Environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh today urged transparency in burning of rhino horns at the Green India Mission consultation here while replying to NGOs’ queries on the recent controversy.

The issue was first reported in The Telegraph when protests in Karbi Anglong stalled the process. Ramesh said he had received several emails from organisations across the world, adding that burning of rhino horns would certainly take place with full transparency. Assam’s forest minister Rockybul Hussain had assured him on this count, Ramesh said. Aaranyak, an NGO, too, has urged transparency.

Chief wildlife warden Suresh Chand said committees for each district had been constituted with representations of deputy commissioner, local MLA, veterinary officers, NGOs and the local divisional forest officer for overseeing the entire process.

He said the Forensic Science Laboratory had assured that disposing of rhino horns would not be a problem as these do not contain any useful substance. “The district veterinary officer will be at the spot to see the rhino horns before they are burnt in full view of the public,” he said.