Guwahati, Sep 25 Welcoming the Project Rhino initiative of the Centre, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday claimed that he had raised the demand a decade ago.
In a post on X, Gogoi said he had pressed for Project Rhino in Parliament in 2016, including a dedicated fund for the animal’s conservation and construction of rhino corridors.
“In 2017, I introduced a Private Member’s Bill proposing a National Rhino Conservation Authority, with provisions to lay down guidelines for Project Rhino,” he said.
The Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha said he subsequently wrote to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2017 and again in 2019.
“The government rejected the demand, stating that rhinos were already covered under Project Tiger,” he claimed.
However, the central government has finally initiated the Project Rhino, 10 years after the first demand was made, Gogoi asserted.
“After rejecting this demand for years, the government has now changed its position and adopted the very position I had consistently advocated. The record reflects a failure of foresight and timely action on a demand that was first raised a decade ago,” he added.
The Assam Congress chief said that the one-horned rhinos are a source of pride for Assam and the country.
“I hope this initiative receives adequate and sustained funding, scientific conservation measures, and effective protection of critical wildlife corridors,” the MP added.
Modi on September 22 announced the initiation of the Project Rhino for financial and technical support to the range states for protection, habitat management, genetic improvement and understanding population dynamics.
(PTI News)
