Commando battalions to be deployed in Kaziranga to save animals: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said three commando battalions will be deployed in Kaziranga National Park to ensure that no animal is killed during the flood season.

The battalions will ensure that no animal is killed in accidents while crossing the national highway and poachers do not take advantage of the flood situation to kill wild animals, Sarma said at a meeting of civil, police and park officials at Kaziranga.

Around 600 personnel of a new forest battalion will also be pressed into service in Kaziranga National Park during the flood season, he said.

The chief minister directed the officials to take all necessary steps and ramp up the response system for the protection of animals.

Sarma also took stock of the loss of land in the Kaziranga National Park primarily due to swift flow of river water.

A joint task force will be formed comprising experts from Forest department, Water Resources department and the Kaziranga National Park to study the phenomena a