The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Bokakhat has imposed a blanket ban on the storage, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala in an around the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) to preserve the beauty of the Kohora Chariali area.
The ban will be effective for one year. The notification in this regard has been issued by Vivek Shyam Pangyok on November 5th, 2019. A copy of the order is available with Time8.
“Distribution, sale, consumption and disposing empty packets of pan masala, gutkha, supari, zarda, tobacco and any such packaged supari like substances within a radius 300 meters from Kohora Outpost is prohibited with immediate effect,” the statement mentioned.
“The use of pan masala, gutkha, supari, zarda, tobacco and other packaged supari like substance is consumed at a very large extent around the areas of Kaziranga National Park. Use of such substances affect the beauty and cleanliness of the area where people either spit or throw the empty packets on road side, which flows to Kohora and ultimately ends up inside the National Park,” the statement further added.
The KNP was reopened for the visitors by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on October 12th, 2019. To protect the rich bio-diversity of Kaziranga, a 32-km long flyover will be constructed on the National Highway-37 towards the southern direction of the KNP.
Sonowal had earlier urged upon all the stakeholders including the households, restaurants, hotels, resorts to keep their areas clean and highlight the serene beauty and uniqueness of Kaziranga.
Inputs: Bitupan Borah | Photo credit: downtoearth.org.in
