NEW DELHI, Dec 1 — Faced with the prospect of World Heritage Committee dropping Manas National Park from the list of heritage sites, following reports of rampant poaching and illegal felling of trees, Union Tourism and Culture Minister, Ambika Soni has sought Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s personal intervention in putting a halt to the illegal activities. Soni’s reaction came after a TV channel reported rampant felling of trees and poaching inside Manas Park by organised mafia. Since long the activities in the Park has been under close scrutiny of UNESCO as well as the Centre. The latest report has rattled officials at the Centre.

The Union Tourism and Culture Minister lost no time in dashing off a letter to the Chief Minister, a copy of which is with this newspaper.

“I saw a report on television two days ago regarding Manas, which showed illegal felling of trees and other such activities. This is of very serious concern for all of us. I will request your personal intervention in the matter to check the illegal activities in Manas National Park,” wrote the Minister.

“The Government of Assam is required to take strong measures so as to get the Manas Park removed from the Danger List. I assure you full support of my Ministry in the efforts of Government of Assam in doing so,” said Soni.

Manas Park continued to be placed in the Danger List of the World Heritage Site. “The World Heritage Committee has continued to keep the Park in the Danger List of the World Heritage Sites,” wrote the Minister.

“ I have directed the Archaeological Survey of India to take whatever steps necessary on their part to enable us to get this World Heritage Site off the Danger List,” said the Minister.

Soni, however, did not forget to appreciate the measures taken by the State Government protect the Park. Manas was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1985 in recognition of its unique position as a natural site.

However, due to disturbances during the Bodo movement, it was put in the Danger List of World Heritage Site in 1992. The Park was out of bounds for a long period after Bodo militants took over control. Home to a number of endangered species, the militants’ wreaked havoc, slaughtering animals and felling trees.

Soni noted that the Government took certain corrective measures like establishment of Bodo Autonomous Council to improve the conditions in the Park.

The UNESCO itself has reported that the Committee decided to include the Site on the World Heritage in Danger List in 1992, when it was invaded by Bodo militants. Damage to the Park was estimated at more than 2 million.

The site’s infrastructure suffered considerable damage during 1992-93. Political instability seems to have led to poaching during this period of thirty-three rhinos during 1989-1992. A monitoring mission jointly undertaken by the Government of India and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in January 1997 confirmed the extensive damage to Park infrastructure and decrease in the population of some species, particularly the greater one-horned rhino, UNESCO reported.

The Government of India, the State Government of Assam and the Park authorities have elaborated a 2.35 million rehabilitation plan which began to be implemented in 1997 and is progressing satisfactorily. And while security conditions in and around Manas have improved, the threat of insurgency still prevails in Assam and militants often traverse the sanctuary. Nevertheless, conditions for site protection and the relationship with local villagers appear to be improving.

However, the TV report claimed rampant poaching, indiscriminate felling of trees, illegal encroachment have hit the India’s biggest biological reserves. The news report showed indiscriminate felling of trees, cattle left free to graze, illegal settlements on the forest range, and evidences of rampant poaching and blatant indifference of the authorities.

The report quoted president of Green Manas Organisation, Debeswar Patowary, as claiming that almost 90 per cent of valuable trees were missing from the reserve.

Source :- Assam Tribune