Assam notifies Dihing Patkai as its 7th National Park

Government of Assam has added has notified Dihing Patkai as a National Park.

Assam Minister for Environment and Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya said, “Raimona and Dihing Patkai National Parks have been formally notified, adding to Assam's total tally of National Park (NP) to 7. Assam has become the second state in the country to have the highest number of NPs. The newly created NPs will help to boost conservation efforts and provide fillip to tourism and agriculture sectors.”

Suklabaidya added, “Madhya Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar have 9 NPs each. Assam is in the second position now in terms of NP”

According to the state government this National Park, a contiguous stretch of forests, starting from Upper Dihing Reserve Forests in the East (under Digboi Division, Tinsukia District) up to the Jeypore RF (under Dibrugarh Division, Dibrugarh District), comprises some pristine forests along the Assam-Arunachal interstate boundary, classified as Assam Valley Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests. Popularly known as Dihing Patkai Rain Forest, it has unique floral and faunal diversity, which was recognized by the Government of Assam in 2004, when 111.19 sq. km. of this area was notified as Dihing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. Forest and wildlife conservation have now been strengthened here by adding another 123.07 sq.km. to the original sanctuary area and conferring National Park status to 234.26 sq. km, with the highest level of protection available under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Notification of the National Park includes areas falling within the existing Dihing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary along with all the additional Reserve Forests i.e. Upper Dihing RF (West Block) and Jeypore RF. However, Forest Village area diverted under Forest Conservation Act has been excluded. Short stretches of Dirak and Buri Dihing rivers falling within this contiguous patch of proposed National Park have been included.

Preliminary notified on 01.12.2020, proclamations were issued on 01.01.2021 by the Deputy Commissioners of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh, after no claims were received and Dihing Patkai was finally notified as a National Park, following due process as outlined in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The newly notified National Park shall be administered by Soraipung Range of Digboi Division and Jeypore Range of Dibrugarh Division, both falling under Conservator, Eastern Assam Circle, who shall be notified as Director of Dihing Patkai National Park. For intensive patrolling and conservation of the new area, additional Anti-Poaching Camps and manpower is being provided by the Govt. of Assam.