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| Preferential treatment? |
Assam’s wildlife conservation efforts seem to be concentrated only on the rhino.
Turn to stories in newspapers and magazines, and there will be one or more articles on rhino conservation. Funding agencies also seem to be interested only on the rhino and its conservation.
Though the attention is good for the rhino, we must remember that there are other species in the state that are in desperate need of protection.
The government’s efforts also seem to be concentrated on the Kaziranga National Park, which is a global tourist hub. On the other hand, national parks like Orang, Manas and Dibru Saikhowa hardly receive any tourists. The parks, away from the public glare, are thus neglected, leading to encroachment and deterioration in conservation efforts.
The situation at Manas can be gauged from the deplorable condition of the road that leads to it. This is the fallout of too much attention on Kaziranga.
While the centenary celebrations at Kaziranga got global attention, Manas, in comparison, hardly received any publicity. The government should take action immediately, before the situation turns too grave.
Rupkamal Hazarika Biswanath Chariali,
Sonitpur
The Khanapara-Jalukbari stretch of National Highway 37 has become a death trap for animals. Anyone taking this route will have seen numerous carcasses of fauna, mostly cows and dogs, lying on the road. Not a single day passes without at least one animal falling prey to speeding vehicles.
The main problem appears to be the trees on the divider. Owing to the lack of care, these trees have grown in such a haphazard manner that they block the view of the drivers and cause accidents.
This problem has been compounded by the fact that a major portion of the highway has no lights at all. The bamboo fencing on the divider has also collapsed at many places. This allows cows and other stray animals to move into the middle of the road, where they stay even after sunset, causing accidents.
I would like to appeal to the district authorities to take immediate steps to prevent such accidents on the highway.
Nayan Dev Choudhury,
Guwahati
The entire region observed World Environment Day recently with great fanfare. Amid the din and buzz, everyone forgot that all is not well with the environmental conditions in the region. Largescale felling of trees have done a great deal of harm to the forests of the Northeast.
Add to this the air, water and noise pollution that is growing at an alarming rate — and the concoction becomes volatile.
The government, along with civilians, should work hand-in-hand to save the environment from degradation.
Punya Tage ,
Itanagar
