The 13th Finance Commission has allocated 185 crore rupees for protection of forests and wild lives in National Parks in Assam. This was stated by the Union Forest and Environment Minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh while inaugurating the night safari at the State Zoo in Guwahati last evening. He said the Centre has given top-most priority on protection and preservation of rich forest resources and its rare wild lives in the State. Mr. Ramesh arrived in the State at the instruction of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to assess the situation following reports of killing of 16 one-horned rhinos in the National Parks by poachers in last one year. The issue also rocked the Budget Session of Parliament. Mr. Ramesh is arriving in the world-famous Kaziranga National Park this afternoon where he will attend a high-level meeting to assess the security arrangements. Meanwhile, the State Chief Minister Mr. Tarun Gogoi has stated that the Assam Government has decided to form a separate battalion to deal with poaching of wild lives in the State. He said 30 per cent of the recruits in the new battalion will be accommodated from women candidates.