Guwahati: With the authorities of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve gearing up to re-open the park amid the resumption of economic activities, visitors will have to contend with new norms within the park premises in accordance with the guidelines to contain the novel coronavirus.
"When the park does open up for visitors once again, we are going to impose a set of rules and regulations that shall be in accordance with the Centre's directives," P Sivakumar, the director of the park, told The Sentinel Digital. "In keeping with the COVID-19 norms, for the safaris and elephant rides, only about 50% of the usual capacity will be allowed. Furthermore, the visitors including drivers and guides and other employees shall also have to be masked and wear face shields. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has already issued the guidelines that shall be uniformly exercised all across the country."
Sivakumar also informed that persons aged below 10 and above 65 shall not be allowed in and all vehicles entering the park shall be sanitized at the check gates. "In case any individual has a temperature higher than normal, he/shall be immediately isolated in a dedicated room identified for this purpose and evacuated to the nearest health facility by a team and vehicle kept for the purpose," he added.
In addition to that, the director informed, vehicle tyre bath with appropriate disinfectant shall be installed at all the entry points as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Upon being asked about the reopening of the park, Sivakumar said that the decision in this regard shall be taken around September 25. "In all likelihood, the park shall be reopened in the month of October; however, we do not know for certain when it will be as an exact date is yet to be fixed."