The Assam State Government on July 6, 2020 decided to upgrade Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary into a national park.
While wildlife sanctuaries are protected areas which permit some activities such as grazing, National Parks call for a complete protection status under The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
In April 2020, National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) had recommended coal mining in the Saleki proposed reserve forest land in Assam. It had raised controversy.
Saleki is a part of the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve that includes the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary covering 111.19 sq km of rainforest and several reserve forests in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.
About Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary
The Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Jeypore Rainforest is a part of Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve .
Dehing is the name of the river that flows through this forest and Patkai is the hill at the foot of which the sanctuary lies.
It is located in the districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
Dehing Patkai is a deciduous rainforest interspersed with semi-evergreen and lush green flora, the only patch of virgin rainforest in Assam.
It comprises of Jeypore, Upper Dehing and Dirok.
The Wildlife Sanctuary is endowed with rich bio-diversity. The dense forest with unique vegetation is mesmerizing.
National parks in Assam
As on July 2020, there are five national parks in Assam. These national parks are:
1. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
2 Kaziranga National Park
3 Manas National Park
4. Nameri National Park
5 Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
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