GUWAHATI: The Co-District Commissioner of Bokakhat, Shivani Jerngal, has issued a prohibitory order regarding community fishing activities within Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The order comes in response to concerns raised by the Divisional Forest Officer, Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, following reports of large numbers of people from various districts intending to enter the park for fishing in beels, rivers, and wetlands between January 13 to 16.
Jerngal has prohibited all illegal entry and community fishing in the beels, rivers, and wetlands of Kaziranga National Park in the Bokakhat area. This order is effective immediately, with exemptions for police, security officials, forest personnel, and other government employees on duty.
Notably, the act of community fishing, which has been occurring for the past few years under the guise of tradition, poses a significant threat to the park’s sanctity. Offenses under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972—specifically illegal entry into the park and damage to its ecosystem—are cognisable and non-bailable under Section 27 and 29.
The order highlights concerns over the potential disruption to the park’s environment, as well as the risk of traffic congestion on National Highway 715 due to large gatherings of people.
Any individual aggrieved by the order can submit a written appeal for exemption or modification. Violators of the prohibitory order will face legal consequences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
