Assam: Kaziranga National Park gets 452 sq km more as tenth addition

JORHAT: The state government approved an addition of 452 hectares to the 1,085.53 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve on Tuesday. The new area is the 10th addition to the park under Biswanath district in the state.
Commissioner and secretary to the government of Assam, environment and forest department, GD Tripathi, by a notification stated that in exercise of the power conferred by section 35 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the government of Assam was pleased to declare its intention to constitute an area of 452 hectares (4.52 Sq.km) as 10th addition to the Kaziranga National Park.
The government, in the same notification, also appointed the Biswanath deputy commissioner to enquire into and determine the existence, the nature and extent of any rights/claims alleged to exist in favour of any person or persons, in or over any land within the limit of the proposed area as the provisions of the act.
According to the notification, the 10th addition area starts from the south-east corner of Monabari afforestation centre at the border of the 6th addition and runs along the boundary of Monabari plantation in eastward direction and then farther eastwards. After that it again runs in a northwestward direction.
The southern boundary runs along the north bank of Brahmaputra river following the boundary of the 6th addition to the park and at the south east corner of Monabari afforestation centre.
"The 10th addition falls under Biswanath sadar subdivision under Biswanath wildlife division of central and Biswanath ghat forest ranges in Kaziranga. The extensive landscape proposed as the 10th addition is used by resident and migratory mega herbivores like Asiatic wild buffalo, rhinos, elephants and tigers. Deer, hare, turtles, snakes and wild pigs are also present in the region," the notification read.
Last year, the government had approved a 30.53 sq km area as seventh, eighth and ninth additions to the park in two districts of Nagaon and Sonitpur. The core area of the Kaziranga is 430 sq km.