GUWAHATI: To safeguard the ecosystem and biodiversity of critical wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Sonitpur district, District Magistrate (DM) Ankur Bharali, has issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The areas covered under these orders include:
-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary
-6th addition to Kaziranga National Park (Sonitpur jurisdiction)
-Nameri National Park
The decision follows reports from Divisional Forest Officers concerning the planned community fishing activities during the Magh Bihu festival, posing severe threats to the sanctuaries' ecosystems.
1. Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Reports from the Divisional Forest Officer, Nagaon Wildlife Division, indicate plans by local communities to conduct large-scale fishing, particularly in the Chenimari Beel area under the Dhania Range. The DM has prohibited:
-The assembly of five or more people without prior authorisation.
-All forms of illegal fishing in the sanctuary.
2. 6th Addition to Kaziranga National Park
Similarly, reports suggest potential illegal fishing in the rivers and wetlands of this region. The prohibitions include:
-Unauthorised gatherings of five or more individuals.
-Illegal fishing activities in the designated park areas under Sonitpur’s jurisdiction.
3. Nameri National Park
With a likelihood of community fishing in the park’s water bodies during Magh Bihu, the following restrictions have been imposed:
-The assembly of five or more persons without permission.
-Any kind of illegal fishing within the park boundaries.
The orders emphasise that such activities contravene the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and threaten irreversible damage to the environment. Violations will attract penalties under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The prohibitory orders are effective immediately and will remain in force until further notice.
