Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked Kamrup (rural) deputy commissioner Kamal Kumar Baishya to undertake tree census in the district to help conserve Greater Adjutant Stork.
Hargila is the common name for Greater Adjutant Stork.
Sonowal asked the DC to use his administrative machinery and the forest department to identify trees with specific numbers in Dadariya, Pachariya and Singimari area in Kamrup (rural) district.
The CM on Tuesday released a documentary on Assam’s Greater Adjutant Stork produced by a team of Cornwell University, USA in the conference room of his office chamber in Janata Bhawan.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said tall trees serve as suitable habitat for Hargilla.
Keeping large number of tall trees will help in Hargilla conservation efforts and increase the population of this dying species.
Also read: New Zealand joins hands with Purnima Devi Barman for protecting greater adjutant stork
Sonowal also emphasised on an action plan for Hargilla conservation so that ecological equilibrium can be maintained in the state.
The Assam CM also hailed the efforts of Dr. Purnima Devi Barman and her dedicated team of women who have formed Hargilla Army for revolutionizing Hargilla conservation efforts in Kamrup district in particular and the state in general.
It may be noted that because of the community efforts of Hargilla Army, the nests for the Greater Adjutant Stork has increased from 30 in 2008 to 171 in 2014.
The ‘Hargila Army’ led by Smt @DeviBarman has transformed conservation efforts of the endangered Greater Adjutant, making Dadara and Pacharia in Kamrup district their largest breeding colony.
Glad to release a documentary on Greater Adjutant Conservation at Janata Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/syNyvv4g14
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) October 22, 2019
At present the average nest number is 200, transforming Dadariya and Pachariya areas into the largest breeding colony of the Adjutant Stork.
The conservation efforts have also resulted in increasing the number of Hargilla population in Kamrup district substantially.
The documentary depicts the pioneering work of how Hargilla Army became the first ever women led conservation movement of Northeast India.
Chief minister Sonowal assured all help to Hargilla Army in its noble endeavour.
He also asked the members to generate large scale awareness among the people so that the conservation efforts transform into a mass movement and Assam becomes a springboard for hargilla conservation.