DIBRUGARH: As the global community observes World Environment Day with renewed pledges towards biodiversity preservation, a glaring indication of environmental disregard is located merely 12 km from Dibrugarh city. The Jokai Botanical Garden & Eco Tourism Park, initially conceived as a representation of Assam’s abundant flora, has devolved into a representation of institutional shortcomings and administrative indifference. Positioned along the Mancotta-Khamtighat road within the safeguarded Jokai Reserve Forest, this 12-hectare botanical garden was intended to function as both a conservation hub and a tourist attraction.
The facility contains an advanced germplasm storage centre, safeguarding rare plant species indigenous to the northeastern region while highlighting the area’s extraordinary biodiversity. The original design of the garden embodies ambitious conservation objectives, featuring specialized zones for medicinal and aromatic plants, an orchid house, and rainforest specimens. Each section was meant to exhibit the region’s botanical richness while preserving genetic material for future research and conservation initiatives. The adjacent Jokai Reserve Forest is a biological treasure trove, hosting endangered species such as leopards, black panthers, civets, and flying squirrels. The ecosystem also sustains a variety of butterfly populations and numerous fish species, rendering it a vital habitat for regional wildlife conservation.
The repercussions of this neglect are immediately apparent to any visitor. The entrance gate remains locked for prolonged periods, compelling disappointed tourists to leave without experiencing the garden’s intended educational and recreational offerings. However, years of neglect have turned this ecological gem into a deserted wasteland. The forest department’s decision in 2018 to engage local women as caretakers seemed promising, yet the arrangement has proven to be unsustainable. These committed workers, who could have played a crucial role in the garden’s restoration, remain unpaid for their efforts, which starkly illustrates governmental mismanagement.
