Guwahati: A leading non-governmental organisation (NGO), Aaranyak works for the conservation of nature in Northeast India. The NGO has now urged the Jorhat district administration to take certain measure to stop the ongoing resort development activities in the area of Nimati-Kokilamukh of Jorhat district.
Aaranyak strives to protect the nature and its resources ranging from animal and plant species, forests, various water bodies, mountains, as they believe that the welfare of our communities is intricately linked to pristine nature.
Nimati-Kokilamukh area falls under the Janjimukh-Kokilamukh Important Bird Area (IBA). It is recognised by Birdlife International and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) as part of a worldwide assessment and home to 26 globally threatened species of birds.
IBA aims to identify, monitor, and protect a global network of IBAs for the conservation of the world's birds and associated biodiversity.
The Janjimukh-Kokilamukh area is home to various species of birds, which includes the globally threatened bird species such as the Swamp Francolin, Marsh Babbler, Common Pochard, and Yellow-breasted Bunting among others.
The area also provides wintering and breeding ground to more than 200 different species of birds.
An executive member of Aaranyak and a Wildlife biologist Udayan Borthakur has appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Jorhat to immediately review the situation and stop such activities. Borthakur is a resident of Jorhat. He has appealed to the Jorhat DC through a letter and asked him to stop such activities and further damage of the habitat, and causing serious disturbance to the rare and threatened species of birds.
On December 28, an official statement was issued by Aaranyak. The statement said, "It is a major concern that these resorts are permitted to be developed in such a crucial bird habitat and also being allowed to operate day and night, with loud music and assemblage of the crowd at an unsustainable scale."