Endangered

Guwahati, March 19: The Centre has promised more funds for rhino conservation in Assam and has asked Dispur to submit a long-term rhino conservation project.

The Centre’s commitment came from none other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who chaired the fifth meeting of the National Board for Wildlife held at his residence in New Delhi last evening.

The meeting was attended by the board members and officials besides environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

Bibhab Talukdar from Assam, a member of the board who was present at the meeting, told The Telegraph that the Centre was expecting a long-term rhino conservation project from the Assam government to save the endangered mammal.

“In our report submitted by me and G.S. Bharadwaj of Wildlife Institute of India on the proposed action plan for Orang with reference to rhino poaching, we have mentioned certain areas where financial assistance may be needed. Now, the state will have to prepare a plan and submit it to the Centre for securing extra funds for rhino conservation, specifically for Orang and also for other rhino-bearing areas,” Talukdar said today.

The report recommended supply of modern arms and ammunition to the frontline staff besides the state government directing the concerned police administration to impart weapon training-cum-firing practice to the staff posted at Orang National Park. It has also called for having a Project Rhino similar to Project Tiger or Project Elephant.

Talukdar added that there was no time limit for submitting the project.

At the meeting, Talukdar had raised the issue of involvement of district and autonomous councils along with the state to enhance conservation of wildlife and forests..

The Prime Minister urged the states to strengthen their structure to enhance wildlife conservation and the core area has to be kept inviolate for wildlife conservation. He also stated that the time has come to form conservation foundation in each of the protected areas on the lines of tiger foundation being set up in each tiger reserve.

Ramesh informed the meeting that his ministry was open to provide 50 per cent salaries of the newly recruited frontline staff for the next five years but the states have to bear the rest 50 per cent.