Kaziranga National Park in Assam is a World Heritage Site known for housing a large population of one-horned rhinos, bears, panthers, birds, elephants and more. The protected area is spread across the floodplains of Brahmaputra and is visited by many migratory birds like grey pelicans. It’s one of the most sought-after wildlife parks for safaris. So, it comes as a shock when pictures of a garbage dump, full of plastic waste in Kaziranga National Park went viral on Twitter. Here’s what this is all about.
Kaziranga National Park Littered With Plastic Waste
MLA Mrinal Saikia took to Twitter to share pictures of a garbage dump right in the heart of Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site in Assam. The MLA in her caption revealed that the garbage dump is in Kohora Chariali, the Nerve Centre of the national park. She questioned who is responsible for the ugliness (garbage dump) and whose duty is it to keep the space clean.
This is Kohora Chariali, the Nerve Centre of Kaziranga National Park— World Heritage Site, Pride of Assam. Who is responsible for this ugliness and whose duty is it to keep the place clean? pic.twitter.com/Y7eDoqJwnA
— Mrinal Saikia (@Mrinal_MLA) March 19, 2023
The pictures show non-biodegradable plastic waste like biscuit packets, plastic covers and even cardboard boxes strewn in the wildlife reserve. Surrounded by greenery the plastic waste stands out like a sore thumb in the middle of the national park. Netizens instantly took to the comments section of her tweet to talk about their experiences and observations when visiting the Kaziranga National Park.
Tweeple Say It’s Our Responsibility To Keep Environment Clean
@rakesh_yk10 informs that he travelled on March 5th from Guwahati to his destination and also came across the same spot ( garbage dump). Like MLA Mrinal Saikia, Rakesh also captured a picture of the same spot. To curb littering, the Twitterati suggests the government ban plastic and make it a plastic-free area. @sanjayjalan01chimes in that this garbage dump is near the front gate of Kaziranga National Park.
Expecting everything to be done by the govt is just not possible. Look at the light post near a pan shop, look at the stairs of our foot over bridges. Who soils them?
Who throws plastic bottles . We nd to own it n b responsible.— Swamit (@SwamitB) March 19, 2023
So, end of the day whose responsibility is it to keep the Kaziranga National Park clean? Twitteratis say it’s our responsibility, the visitors’. @SwamitB comments that it’s impossible to expect the government to keep everything clean. he drew attention to the lack of civic sense with examples like the dirty light posts near paan shops, soiled stairs and strewn plastic bottles on roads.
And certainly, it is our responsibility as tourists and visitors to keep our environment clean. We hope Kaziranga National Park doesn’t face any more instances of littering. And these pictures serve as a lesson to everyone.
Cover Image Courtesy: @Mrinal_MLA/ Twitter