Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji to be upgraded to wildlife sanctuary: CM Sonowal

Guwahati: Poba Forest Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot located in Dhemaji of Upper Assam, will soon be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary, announced the state's Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Poba, one of the crucial areas for flora and fauna in the region, is considered to be under severe threat due to a number of reasons -- and particularly the erosion due to the Siang river that swells up during the monsoons. Currently, there is rampant deforestation and erosion in the area and it is generally believed that urgent measures are needed to resolve the issue.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday took stock of the devastation caused by flood at outer Jonai and Bera Sapori areas in Jonai and interacted with inmates of a flood relief camp in the vicinity. He took stock of the flood situation in the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, and Majuli and enquired whether schemes have been properly implemented in the area. During his visit, Sonowal also directed officials to expedite the embankment repair to give relief to the people affected by floods in the region.

Sonowal also urged the Water Resource Department to take steps to prevent floods caused by the Suwansiri and Dikrong Rivers at Jamuguri, stop the damage caused at Kenmili embankment in Majuli, and floods caused by Siyang River at Jonai among others.

Nine more people died in flood-related incidents in Assam on Tuesday and 33 lakh people across 28 districts of the state are affected by the deluge, said the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) in its daily bulletin.

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