News Desk: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of Kaziranga Orchid Park at Kohora yesterday. This park to be set up by the Horticulture Directorate of the State Government is proposed to be implemented with an expenditure of Rs. 16 crore in an area covering 30 Bigha land. The park is supposed be completed within 2 years. This park will have 800 square meter Orchidarium for hybrid and imported orchids, 500 square meter Orchidarium for local orchids, 800 square meter greenhouse, tissue culture unit, commercial orchid greenhouse, administrative block cum training centre, viewpoints, etc.
Speaking at a low-key programme held on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the state government is contemplating to keep Kaziranga National Park and other important tourist destinations open for tourists throughout the year. He said that the State Government will make a decision in this regard after consultation with all concerned stakeholders.
The Chief Minister said that the park would open new opportunities for students, researchers, and scientists apart from tourists. Chief Minister Sonowal also highlighted the commercial value of orchid worldwide and urged people to take up orchid farming in every household. He said that such an initiative would economically boost the unemployed youth in the state. The Chief Minister also made a call to the people of the State to identify the resources and possibilities of wildlife in Assam and also to come forward for the preservation and promotion of biodiversity.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora in his speech thanked the Chief Minister for his cooperation in setting up the Orchid Park at Kaziranga. The Minister said that the agriculture department under the leadership of Chief Minister Sonowal has received new momentum in the state. He also highlighted various schemes being implemented in the agriculture sector. The Agriculture Minister informed that while 1.20 lakh hybrid orchid species are available in the world, 30 thousand such species grow naturally. In India, 1300 orchid species are found out of which 800 are naturally available in Assam. However, 70 of such species are in endangered categories, the Agriculture Minister said adding that the orchid park would take special measures for the survival of such species.
Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, Vice-Chancellor of Assam Agriculture University Ashok Bhattacharya, and MP Kamakhya Prashad Tasa also delivered a speech on the occasion. While Director Horticulture Abdul Jalil delivered the welcome speech the programme was also attended by MLA Rituparna Baruah, Chairmen of Assam Seeds Corporation and Assam Agriculture Marketing Board, Golaghat DC Bibhash Modi, Nagaon DC Jadav Saikia, and other senior officials.