Pakke Paga fest from January 16

Our Correspondent

Itagar, December 31: The ture conservationists and animal lovers of East Kameng district have decided to organise a three–day Pakke Paga (Hornbill) Festival at Seijosa in the district from January 16 next. ‘“A committee has been constituted with five ture lovers and environmentalists of Pakke area to organize the first ever Pakke Paga festival with the main objective to promote eco–tourism and improve the economic condition of the people inhabiting around the Pakke tiger reserve,” Ghora Aabhe Society chairman Takum bum informed during a press conference here today. The committee had decided for holding the festival as an annual calendar event, he said.  “The society has been working for promoting and preservation of forest for a long period. Our aim is to conserve wild population and to create awareness among the masses about the benefit of the flora and fau”, he said. “This will be not like any other festivals. Our motto through the event is to maintain commul harmony between all tribes. Five Assam–based organizations have joined with us to make the programme a grand success,” he added. The Society through its wildlife programme of creating artificial nestling sites with the Pakke Tiger Reserve, has drastically increased the hornbill population in the part in the last few years. Watching hornbills in the forest by trekking 12–13 km inside would be the main attraction of the festival, he informed. Besides tents, visitors could have the experience of home stay in local huts by paying charge to enjoy local hospitability, bum informed, adding, cultural programmes, traditiol games and elephant riding would be the major attractions of the tourism extravaganza.