Forest Minister's effigy burnt

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA, May 20:  In protest against the alleged failure to protect the wild life in Dibru Saikhowa tiol Park,  members of environmental organization Paribesh Surakhya Samiti, Hindu Chatra Santha and Muslim Yuba Parishad burnt the effigy of Forest minister Etua Munda here today.

They  alleged that the government has failed to protect the wild animals of the tiol park. “If the government as well as the forest minister can’t do any needful for the checking of the ongoing poaching and killing of wild animals including elephant in the park , the forest minister should resign without any delay” said a protester.

Located around 12 km away  from here,  the Dibru-Saikhowa tiol Park and Biosphere Reserve, spread over 765 sq. km., of which 340 sq. km. form the core of this magical land, this park is a complex of wetlands, grasslands, littoral swamps and semi-evergreen forests, including the largest salix swamp forest in Northeast India.

The park, which houses several species of animals and around 400 species of residential as well as migratory birds, is also an ideal home for the endangered Gangetic river dolphin.