Drive To Free Umananda Island In Guwahati From Plastic

GUWAHATI: On the occasion of the World Water Day 2019, Voice of Environment (VoE), an NGO, has initiated a campaign for an eco-friendly, sustainable and plastic-free Umananda Island in Guwahati by generating mass awareness to keep and build the heritage site a clean and sustainable eco-friendly premise.

Umananda has a fragile ecosystem. It has a biodiversity of wide range of flora and fauna. A rare species of Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei) is found here. It needs to be protected and conserved. This beautiful and the smallest river island is a historic and cultural landscape for eco-tourism.

Thousands of devotees, visitors across the country and the world visit the site for worshiping and enjoying its beauty. But ignorant devotees and tourists carry plastic bags, beverage bottles and other plastic materials and discard them scattered, posing a threat to the island’s ecosystem and biodiversity. It results in waste generation on the island, especially plastic waste which pose a challenge for Sree Sree Umananda Devalaya Parichalana Samiti and the Kamrup (M) District Administration for disposal. Ultimately plastic waste drains into the Brahmaputra, creating vulnerability to dolphins in particular and other aquatic species.

The team VoE initiated a mission to generate awareness among all visitors starting from the ferry ghat at Uzan Bazar to the island. This mission is being supported by the Umananda Devalaya Parichalana Samiti, the district administration and Inland Water Services.

The team started the campaign from the Ferry Ghat 10:30 am on Sunday. The team carried out a cleanliness drive, besides interacting with visitors in Umananda.

Thereafter a special message sent by UNDP Environment Officer Kumar Deepak has been shared among all participants and devotees on this special occasion. Kumar Deepak is also an adviser to VoE initiatives. He stresses to protect the Umananda ecosystem and its biodiversity.

VoE is also working to create mass awareness and action for a better mitigation plan to avoid plastic within the premises of Kamakhya temple and Basistha temple.

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