Vijoynagar road to be harbinger of tourism

Road is my dream: Mossang

Completion of 156-km Miao-Vijoynagar road would give a new thrust to tourism, Miao MLA-cum-UD Minister Kamlung Mossang, who represents that area, reiterating his dream to connect the road on priority to improve communication. The road would not only protect flora and fauna of NNP for posterity while maintaining ecological balance but also would give a new thrust to state tourism. Now it takes about 4 to 6 days by foot march to reach Vijoynagar from Miao.

Appreciating the keen interest shown by Governor Brig (Retd) B D Mishra, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and RWD Minister Honchun Ngandam, he said with conviction that this the best opportunity to complete the road whose construction had begun in 2000. He hoped that good sense will prevail upon the local people, particularly those living in the periphery of the NNP to cooperate with the construction agency to complete the road speedily.

The minister is absolutely right as this editor was awestruck at the magnificent scene of a flock of flying state bird Hornbills in the distant horizon as the chopper carrying entourage than Governor JJ Singh was returning after inauguration of Vijoynagar advanced landing ground on 18.11. 2002.

It may be mentioned here that Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS) in East Kameng district is the only hornbill sanctuary in India. The protection of this magnificent bird, killed by Nyishi inhabitants of this district to replace their traditional headgear (bopiya) with the bird’s beak, had ended at the initiative of PWS DFO Chukhu Loma after he convinced them to use artificial beak in 2002. This had led to a mass people’s movement and funding in 2002 to intensify protection of hornbill found in IUCN’s protected species list. Then PCCF (wildlife & biodiversity) JL Singh had told this editor that your news in ANI was very helpful to convince higher ups for funding the Nest adoption programme.

Beyond the Horizon

By Pradeep Kumar

Vast tourism potentials of Arunachal Pradesh with numerous sobriquets – Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains or the Orchid State of India or the Paradise of the Botanists or Last Sangir La on Earth or Nilalaya – are waiting in the wings to be unfolded.

Lack of road communication and way side amenities have been dissuading tourists, nature lover adventure tourists making trips from time to time despite numerous hurdles. The Namdapha National Park (NNP) located along Indi-China-Bhutan tri-junction is the best example.

Namdapha (nam means water and dapha means origin of forest in Singpho) was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1972, a National Park and became a Tiger Reserve under National Tiger Project in 1983. The Noa-Dihing river criss-crossing it originates from Dapha Bum glaciers.

Spread in 1985.23 sqkm  it represents true wilderness and enchanting beauty of lush green vegetation, impenetrable pristine and virgin forests in Changlang district but few KM  away from Miao amidst misty blue hills along the turbulent Noa-Dihing river in the sprawling tropical rain forest.

The NNP famous Mishimi Teeta (Coptis teeta), a medicinal plant, used by local tribals to cure various diseases but its export has been banned. There is record of a cancer patient getting cured by taking Mishimi Teeta tea. Its diverse vegetation and habitats groom diverse species of animals and birds and only park in the world to have four feline species of big cat, namely Tiger (Panthera Tigris), Leopard (Panthera Pardus), Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa) and numbers of lesser cats. A number of primate species are seen in the park, such as Assamese macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque and number of the distinctive Hoolock Gibbons (Hylobates Hoolock), highly endangered and only ‘ape’ species found in India dwells in this impenetrable virgin forest. Of the many other important animals are the elephants, black bear, Indian Bison, several species of deer, reptiles and a variety of arboreal animals.

Among the bird species, most notable are White winged Wood Ducks, a rare & endangered species, Great Indian hornbills, jungle fowls and pheasants flop their noisy way through the jungle. It harbours other colourful bird and animal species. The inaccessibility to major parts of NPP is a boon to protect the forests in pristine, virgin and natural form. It boasts of huge bio-diversity of flora and fauna. The lush green under growths is thick and intertwined like cobwebs of canes, bamboos, wild bananas and variety of vegetation. The grandeur of the wet tropical rain forest is breeding ground for varieties of animals and birds which is remarkable and worth seeing.

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