Guwahati, July 23: The Kaziranga National Park is just a step away from becoming one of the seven new natural wonders of the world.
The park, a world heritage site, housing the highly endangered one-horned rhinos, has made it to the second round of the contest, Forest Department sources said here.
According to the results available here, 77 of the total 440 nominees have made it to round two in as many as seven categories.
They will be eligible for listing as one of the new seven wonders of the world. A total of 28 finalists will vie for the rankings.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was among the first to vote for the park which is done online.
A note from the Chief Minister’s office has urged the national and the local media to support the state’s cause and ensure Kaziranga makes it to the coveted list of seven new natural wonders.
Thanking the people for their overwhelming support and voting through e-mail, a spokesman of the chief minister’s office regretted that the national and local media have not highlighted the park’s strong points as much as they should to increase its chances.
“Apart from being a world heritage site, the park will get added international attention if it figures in the list of the seven new wonders,” the spokesman said.
Mr. Gogoi himself in a statement earlier had urged the people to vote for the park, saying it will be a matter of pride for the State.
The State’s Forest Minister, Rockybul Hussain, said the State’s Forest Department would launch three Websites on KNP to help the panel of experts get enough information on the park.
“We have done whatever possible to ensure that the KNP figures in the list,” he said.
–Agencies