Check movements of vehicles passing through KNP during flood season: Centre

A Correspondent

New Delhi: The Centre on Friday has asked the Assam government to develop a robust system to check movements of heavily loaded vehicles on roads passing through the Kaziranga National Park.

"I have asked the the Assam government to develop a robust system to monitor the movement of heavily loaded vehicles plying on roads and passing through the Kaziranga National Park," said Union Minister for Environment and Forest Prakash Jawdekar.

In fact, Jawdekar asked all the State governments that more highlands may be made for wild animals, to take shelter at the time of floods.

"…Also directed to make over passes, install speed governors, sinages, gates and other cost effective mitigation measures for prevention killing of wild animals due to accidental hits by vehicles," said Jawdekar.

The message given by Jawdekar assumes special significance for Assam as hundreds of wild animals in Kaziranga get killed by moving vehicles during rainy seasons and floods.

According to an estimate, nearly 200 animals, including 17 one-horned rhinos died in floods last year. The flood has inundated 95 per cent of its 434-sq km area.

Other animals also became the casualty. Hog deers bore the maximum brunt as 124 drowned in floodwater or killed by speeding vehicles on the National Highway 37 while fleeing to highlands to avoid the flood, reports suggest.

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