Paradise on earth: Jalimukh in Khalingduar Reserve Forest in Assam

Green and green

Small home

Strongest chilly of the world: Bhut jolokia of Assam

A lesser black Krait of Assam

A dove

4 die while installing motor at Dimakuchi in Assam

Four people -namely, Siddique Ali (23) of Kalaigaon;Bijoy Rajbongshi (35),Hari Rajbongshi (30) and Gauranga Mondol (43) of Dimakuchi under Dimakuchi police station died in a tragic mishap to day at around 3.30 PM. According to information,all of them died while installing a water motor in a well of Ninanha Khaklari (38) of Dimakuchi.All the four died due to lack of oxygen inside the well.It needs mention that all the three went into the well to rescue Siddique Ali,who had went down to a already dug well for collecting a remaining pipe of the motor.The incident has caused sorrow in the district.

30 thousand tree planted near India-Bhutan border on World Environment Day

A massive tree plantation programme was arranged at Nonai in Khalingduar Reserve Forest near India-Bhutan border on June 5 on the occasion of World Environment Day. Nearly 400 people planted almost 30,000 saplings.The programme was sponsored jointly by Dhansiri Forest Division,Udalguri and BPF Bhergaon district committee in association with SSB camp,Nonai and Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society,Nonai. Lwmsrao Daimari,EM,BTC inaugurated the plantation programme at 9.30 AM near Nonai river close to Indo-Bhutan border. It needs mention that large scale destruction of forest and human encroachment have posed serious ecological threat in whole BTAD districts. The so called “Man-Elephant conflict” could be a major cause of such destruction.According to senior villagers of the area,the destruction of forest had started during 1992 to 1996 under direct patronage of then SP of Darrang. Hundreds of most valuable old trees had daily been fallen by SULFA and other opportunists under police protection. It had been an easy go for all,including police officials who could come and cut tree in Khalingduar Reserve Forest and Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary till Supreme Court of India intervened in 1996. “Most of the persons involved with destructive activities have now become economical power in cities” lamented a nature loving old villager. It has been the good initiative of Lwmsrao Daimari,EM,BTC, who had masterminded the massive programme on World Environment Day. Bankim sarma,DFO,Dhansiri Forest Division told that 16000 simul,8000 sisum and 6000 khoir saplings had been planted in a plot of 225 bigha. He also told that tall trees had been planted so as to minimize mortality and would be safe shelter for disappearing birds species like vultures,kites and adjutants etc.He further declared that JFMC (Joint Forest Management Committee) would be formed in Nonai forest range. It was also known that nearly 250 BPF workers,30 laborers, 22 forest workers and 5 forest officials, 10 NGO members of GVFAWLPS, 10 SSB personal and others including Bodoland Small Tea Growers Association offered their services. A leading lady of the area,Dukuna Newar,who also works as the Sarkari Gaonbura also took part in the programme with other woman members. She told this correspondent that with no new plantation villages would face problems like shortage of ground water. According to he members of “Parijat Mahila Samiti” (a local woman NGO)have been working for the conservation of flora of villages bordering Bhutan and they would plant more trees at the site. Several distinguished persons namely – Dandi Ram Rabha,MCLA,BTC; DN Hazarika, Circle Officer,Harisinga Revenue Circle,Tangla; Maheswar Boro,President, Bhergaon district BPF; Dina Nath Das,State Vice President BPF and senior journalist Bhargab Kumar Das etc attended the plantation programme.

Killing of wild animals continues in Udalguri district in Assam

Wildlife loving people of Udalguri district have expressed serious concern at the alarming growing rate of killing and injuring wild animals and birds in the district.As a result of unabated destruction of forest cover and encroachment on forest lands,particularly near Indo-Bhutan border,wild animals including elephants have started roaming human settlements once belonged to them.As per information received from villagers residing near Indo-Bhutan border,a wild deer had recently been killed by villagers of Section No.5 of Hattigarh tea garden. Forest department could not confirm the incident as the deer was immediately eaten up. In another incident a wild tusker with grievous injury on its eye and leg was seen moving at Kundarbil last week.According to villager the injury could have been caused by arrows,spears or gun. Bankim Sarma ,DFO,Dhansiri Forest Division,remarked that efforts were on to track the injured elephant.He said that it was difficult to track an injured elephant on international border as it could be moving between two countries.Members of two local NGOs namely- Pigmy Hog Eco-Tourism Society, Bornadi and Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society,Khalingduar Reserve Forest also have been working hard for the conservation of flora and fauna in the district. It is worth mentioning that an awareness meeting was held at Staff Club of Hattigarh tea garden recently on May 22.The awareness meeting was sponsored by WWF (India), Tezpur; Dhansiri Forest Division,Udalguri and Hattigarh TE management. Dr.Anupam Sarma and Hiten Baishya of WWF;MP Sarma,ACF,Udalguri and Haladhar Kalita,Range Office,Nonai Range Office;Rana Baruah,Senior Manager of Hattigarh TE attended the awareness meeting.They explained about behaviour of wild animals particularly wild elephants and requested villagers to take a few safety measures by not coming close to them so as to restrict man elephant conflict in the district which had caused deaths of more than a dozen elephants and human being.

Another leopard killed in Assam by forest and security forces

Another helpless leopard has unnecessarily been brutally shot dead by security and forest personal at Duliajan in Assam to day.Assam police and forest department lacks modern techniques to control such situation.The trapped leopard could have been easily tranquillised or captured.Non cooperation among agencies like forest,police and mostly public.The leopard would have been killed by people;but the presence of police and armed forces just made the situation meaningless (with no strategy and planning)