Cash crunch hits biodiversity photographic gallery in city!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 28: In order to lure students towards biodiversity, the Assam Science Society (ASS) set up the Biodiversity Photographic Gallery at Khapara in the city. It was opened by then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on October 10 in 2006.

The gallery has photographs of around 500 different species of local and migratory birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, orchids, paddy, etc. It was set up with funds extended by them MP Syeda Anwara Taimur from her MPLAD Fund, the Ministry of Environment and Forest and funds from the ASS.

Despite huge potentials, the gallery was closed after a few years of its set up due to cash crunch.

The key person of the gallery, Dr. Mohan Chandra Kalita, said: "Rs 50,000 a month is required for the maintence of the gallery. However, because of cash crunch the gallery has to be closed despite huge potentials. The gallery has potentials to woo visitors but even now there's a wide gap between science and society. To make it more alluring for students and others we need money. We did submit a proposal of Rs 1.45 crore to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest in 2013. After that a number of reminders were sent to the ministry, but to no avail. People are too busy with academic career and they can't take time out of their busy schedule."

A few months back, the society submitted a Rs 1.60-crore proposal to Assam Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta to make the gallery more alluring with inclusion of audio and video components.

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