Students of Gauhati University have started an online campaign to stop coal mining in Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam.
The campaign has been organized by Eco Club, GU, and it aims to spread awareness about the future of the wildlife sanctuary through “social media movement.”
Recently, The National Board for Wildlife, or NBWL, permitted Coal India Limited to carry out extraction in 98.59 hectares of the rainforest's land. Many fear that it will completely destroy Dehing Patkai, which is also known as ‘Amazon of the East.'
“Illegal mining has already damaged the rainforest. Recently, NBWL has permitted Coal India Limited to start extraction in 98.59 hectares of land at Dehing Patkai in Saleki-- an Elephant Reserve area. It will completely destroy the Sanctuary,” Postgraduate Students' Union (PGSU) of Gauhati University said in a statement.
“Post #SaveDehingPatkai in your social media accounts. Together we can save Dehing Patkai,” the statement added.
The campaign gained momentum over May 16 and May 17, when students from the university and its affiliated colleges took #SaveDehingPatkai to social media.
We urge @PrakashJavdekar @PMOIndia @sarbanandsonwal @himantabiswa to stop any current and future coal mining project in Saleki and the whole Dehing Patkai Elephant reserve as the resulting ecological disbalance will affect the country for a long time to come#SaveDehingPatkai pic.twitter.com/dmGCG4F5rl
— Nabankur Saikia (@NabankurSaikia) May 14, 2020
And indeed, this is the time to decide what is more important! @PrakashJavdekar , @ParimalSuklaba1@sarbanandsonwal , please#SaveDehingPatkai. #nbwl should rethink on their permit to @CoalIndiaHQ pic.twitter.com/BYnnJLoqVY
— Bishal Kalita (@BishalKalita9) May 13, 2020
Cottonian Jagran Mancha submitted a memorandum opposing coal mining at Dihing Patkai Sanctuary to the CM @sarbanandsonwal,@CMOfficeAssam today. We as the citizens of Assam and students of Cotton University refuse to accept the proposal. #stopcoalmine#savedehingpatkai pic.twitter.com/CEG014rtAu
— Hrishikesh Medhi (@HrishikeshMedh7) May 16, 2020
Apart from Dehing Patkai, Assam has five national parks, 17 wildlife sanctuaries and two biosphere reserves, including Kaziranga and Manas National Park.
These protected areas house many endangered and rare species. Kaziranga National Park is known for one-horned Rhino.
The homes of rare species have been facing serious threats from illegal hunters, occupiers, and floods.
