Guwahati: In a landmark decision poised to significantly bolster biodiversity conservation, the Assam Cabinet today gave its nod to the expansion of Kaziranga National Park by over 47,000 hectares. This crucial sixth extension of the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The move, as articulated by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) Assam, is a strategic step to fortify conservation endeavours and simultaneously foster sustainable tourism within the iconic national park.
Taking to the microblogging platform X, CMO Assam underscored the significance of this expansion, reiterating its commitment to preserving the rich natural heritage of the state. The official post highlighted that the villages of Gopal Jarani, Gonaitapu, Jobre, Thute Chapori, Baligaon Biswanath Ghat, Umatamoni, Gakhirkhaite, Silghat, and Hatimura are all slated for inclusion within the ambit of this expansive project. This momentous decision stems from the resolutions taken during a prior state cabinet meeting held on May 21 at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, presided over by Chief Minister Sarma.
Beyond the vital expansion of Kaziranga, the recent cabinet deliberations also touched upon several other pivotal initiatives for the state. Earlier, the Assam Cabinet had moved to issue arms licences to original inhabitants and indigenous Indian citizens residing in vulnerable, remote, and border areas of the state. This forward-looking scheme, as explained by the Chief Minister, is designed to act as a deterrent against unlawful threats and instil a greater sense of personal security and confidence among these communities.
Further advancing skill development and employment opportunities, the cabinet has greenlit a substantial Rs 250 crore proposal. This allocation is earmarked for the upgrade of 34 polytechnics and 43 government ITIs into Centres of Excellence, a collaborative effort with Tata Technologies Limited. In a gesture of honouring Assam’s prominent figures, three institutions are also set for renaming: the Sarusajai Sports Complex will now be known as the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, the Mangaldoi Stadium as the Raja Dharma Narayan Stadium, and the State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development will be rechristened the Golap Borbora State Institute of Panchayat and Rural Development.
The cabinet’s progressive decisions also included the approval of land allotment by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to Greenko Energies for a 900 MW off-stream Pumped Storage Project in West Karbi Anglong. Additionally, relaxations in land categories for oil palm cultivation under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) were sanctioned, a move aimed at enabling more farmers across the state to reap the benefits of the scheme.
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