Bifurcation Of Kaziranga National Park

• The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) had been split into two divisions — the existing Eastern Assam Wildlife and the new Biswanath Wildlife park with Brahmputra flowing in between.
• The Kaziranga South Division will cover all areas of Kaziranga situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra with existing four Ranges viz. Kaziranga (Kohora), Eastern Range (Agaratoli), Western Range (Bagori) and Burhapahar Range.
• The headquarters of the North division will be at Biswanath with three ranges under this division at Biswanath, Panpur and Gohpur (Gomeri). The Panpur Range and the Gohpur Range (Gomeri) will be newly created under the proposed Kaziranga North division.

Reason for Bifurcation
Due to expansion of area under the KNP, it became difficult for one division to manage the National Park and because of this these areas did not get the desired attention. Specific issues faced are-

• Poachers remained un-convicted due to large area of the park, which can now be curbed better as it mostly happened in the northern region, and officers from the southern side were unable to prevent it.
• The funds allocated were not only under-utilised but were largely unused, with bifurcation separate authorities will be more accountable.
• It will also ease overcoming staff shortage as northern region can now recruit from northern Assam separately and so with the southern region.
• Tourism was also suffering largely due to above mentioned reasons, bifurcation will lead to better management and increased visitation and hence, the revenue.

Criticism
It is predicted that this decision may have benefits in the short run, but in the long run it may-

• come at the cost of the ecology, road and river network.
• result in increased noise an air pollution due to increased footfall.
• make the animals more ‘zoo-like’, and hence tamer, taking away the sense of adventure that attracts tourists to the Kaziranga National Park.

By: Ziyaur Rahman