Army assistance to KNP breathes in new life

TEZPUR, August 3: Kaziranga was notified as a National Park in 1974 and is today a world re-known wild-life sanctuary housing endangered species like the one-horned rhino, swampdeer, wild buffalo, elephant, tiger, hoolock gibbon, gangetic dolphin, sambar, florican and the great Indian hornbill. Situated 85 km east of Tezpur, the Park stretches over 430 sq km of riverine terrain along the south bank of the mighty Brahmaputra. Due to its location, the park is annually ravaged by the fury of floods causing extensive loss to wildlife and property. In 1998, 80 per cent of the Park was submerged under eight feet of water leading to the loss of 31 rhinos, five elephants, 20 buffaloes and 520 deer of various species. Several animals were mowed down by vehicular traffic along NH-37 when they were seeking refuge from rising flood waters. Bases on an appeal from the WWF, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General V.P. Malik asked 4 Corps to render all assistance to safeguard wildlife and restore the Park, to its pristine glory. Under the directions of Lt Gen N.C. Vij, General Officer Commanding 4 Corps, Army Engineers constructed 10 highgrounds and the Gajraj Viewpoint along NH-37 which offers a breathtaking view of the park against the backdrop of the great river. Construction of the 10 highgrounds each measuring 100 metres in length, four metres in height with a top width of four metres involved excavation of 30,000 cubic metres of earthwork. On the other hand, erection of the cantilevered viewpoint involved filling of 500 tons of earthwork to create additional parking space so that travellers using the viewpoint do not obstruct traffic along the national highway. This massive work was completed in a record time of 46 days. On a special invitation from the WWF, the COAS, Gen VP Malik inaugurated the viewpoint on December 26, 1998, and formally dedicated the highgrounds to the Kaziranga National Park. The impressive ceremony was attended amongst others by Goswami, secretary WWF for the north-eastern region, Harish Sonowal, secretary, Forest Department of Assam and B.S. Bonal, Director, Kaziranga National Park. Towards the end of 1999, BS Bonal, Director, Kaziranga National Park approached the Corps Commander, Lt Gen DB Shekatkar with the other problem that plagues the Park which is the silting of over 200 ponds which are the lifeline for the wild animals. In pursuant to this request, Army Engineers were again pressed into service to desilt a major waterbody along NH-37. The desilted material was concurrently dumped along the highway to raise its level, atop which the Kanchanjuri Viewpoint has been constructed. This Kanchanjuri Viewpoint was inaugurated by Maj Gen S.S. Chahal, Chief of Staff 4 Corps on June 8 and is finding great favour with tourists and travellers along NH-37. At the inauguration ceremony, B.S. Bonal, Director, Kaziranga National Park requested for further assistance to desilt other waterbodies in the Park which has been agreed to in principle and survey work is in progress. In undertaking these projects, the Army continues its drive to preserve the country's ecology and wildlife as they believe it to be their bounden duty to society and future generations.