Assam Cabinet Decides to Remove Rajiv Gandhi's Name From Orang National Park

Covering an area of 79.28 sq km, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985, and a national park in 1999.

The Wire Staff

Covering an area of 79.28 sq km, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985, and a national park in 1999.

assam cabinet decides to remove rajiv gandhi s name from orang national park

An Indian Rhino at the Orang National Park. Photo: Nejib Ahmed/CC BY-SA 4.0

New Delhi: The Assam cabinet on Wednesday decided to rename the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, also a tiger reserve, as the Orang National Park.

"Taking cognisance of the Adivasi and tea tribe community's demands, the Cabinet has decided to rename Rajiv Gandhi National Park as Orang National Park," government spokesperson and water resources minister Pijush Hazarika said at a media briefing after the meeting.

Covering an area of 79.28 sq km, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985, and a national park in 1999. Located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Darrang and Sonitpur districts, the national park is known for wild animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian Rhinos, Pgmy Hog and wild elephants.

This move comes soon after the Union government decided to rename the erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award after Major Dhyan Chand – despite the fact that another national sporting award, which is presented on the same day was already named after Dhyan Chand.

(With PTI inputs)

This article went live on September second, two thousand twenty one, at seven minutes past nine in the morning.

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