The Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal has announced the up-gradation of Poba Reserve Forest, a vital biodiversity hotspot in Dhemaji district of Assam, as a wildlife sanctuary. The announcement was made during a meeting with senior officials of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli districts at Jonai.

KEY POINTS:

i) Poba Reserve Forest, declared in 1924 with an area of 10,522 hectares, is home to a large number of flora and fauna. The Chief Minister today also visited the Outer Jonai and Bera Sapori areas in Jonai and took stock of the devastation caused by flood while interacting with the inmates of a flood relief camp there.

ii) The need to dredge the Brahmaputra River as its water carrying capacity has reduced over the years due to loss of depth and said the Water Resources Department would soon start dredging work.

iii) Strengthening of river management in neighbouring states would also help in preventing floods effectively in Assam and he urged the engineers of Water Resource Department to bring innovation and newer technologies to flood management mechanism in the state.

iv) The action taken by Water Resource Department officials to repair the damaged 150 meter portion of embankment at Bordham under Sisibor Revenue Circle in Dhemaji as the timely work saved the people of the area from devastation of flood.