1997, Budget for Kaziranga dropped from $ 831000 in 1996/97 to $ 581000 in 1997/98. Damaged roads and bridges after monsoon cannot be rapired. Entry of buses had to be stopped as bridges were too fragile. Numbers of visitors fell from 49,282 in 1994/5 to 15,692 in 1996/7. Salaries are sometimes delayed for months. Patrol work has been seriously hampered.
1997, Drastic budget cuts from state government. Roads and bridges damaged after monsoon cannot be repaired. Out oif desperation, field staff in Pabitora have recently built 2.5 km of road themselves, although 30 km are needed. Two destroyed camps on the eastern boundary made possible 2 poaching incidents in 1997.
1997, Drastic budget cuts from state government. Roads and bridges damaged after monsoon cannot be repaired. Patrol work is seriously hampered. In Orang, 8 camps out of 23 have no arms.
Founded in 1996 to preserve wildlife. 'The forest staff is fighting a bare-handed losing battle with the armed smugglers and poachers, and the enemies of the forests. Both the protectors and the protected are heavily suffering as the Department continues to reel under acute financial crisis.' Address, Rehabari, Guwahati, 781008.
