Dibru Saikhowa National Park

2.Dibru Saikhowa National Park: Oil India Limited (OIL) was denied permission to explore and extract oil and gas in Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam, due to Supreme Court restrictions on mining in protected areas.

• About Dibru-Saikhowa National Park: Located in Dibrugarh & Tinsukia districts, Assam, India.

oBiosphere Reserve: Declared in July 1997.

oNational Park status: Given to 340 km² in 1999.

oRivers: Brahmaputra & Lohit Rivers (North) & Dibru River (South)

oClimate: Tropical monsoon (Hot & wet summers, cool & dry winters).

oVegetation: Moist semi-evergreen & deciduous forests → Canebrakes & grasslands → Largest Salix swamp forest in NE India.

oBiodiversity: White-winged wood duck, black-breasted parrotbill, capped langur (Rare species) Tiger, water buffalo, rich fish diversity.

• About Supreme Court Rulings & Mining Restrictions: In 2006, Supreme Court ruled that no mining inside national parks, sanctuaries, and forest areas → In 2023, extended no-mining zone by 1 km around national parks and sanctuaries.