Clearing Silsako

The authorities concerned must be congratulated for having carried out an eviction drive in the Silsako Beel area in the past few days. While a section of the encroachers and their political protectors have opposed the eviction, the ground situation demands further eviction in the area in the greater interest of the city in general and the tax-paying citizens of Guwahati in particular. Even a layman paying a visit to the Silsako Beel area will be able to understand how systematic encroachment has taken place in the wetland of such great importance for the overall health of the city. The political protectors of the evicted encroachers are, of course, correct when they pointed out that a section of powerful and influential people have remained untouched and undisturbed by the eviction. The Ginger Hotel, the Institute of Hotel Management, the Institute of Cooperative Management, the OKD Institute of Social Change, and a few other non-government organisations too are currently situated on what should ideally have been part of the protected wetland. The Silsako Beel is particularly important as a wetland for a large portion of south and south-east Guwahati, covering Panjabari, Khanapara, Rukminigaon, Rukmininagar, Jayanagar, Hengerabari, Satgaon, Narangi and even Dispur. The increasing water-logging in the above-mentioned areas is primarily because of the systematic encroachment of Silsako Beel as also allotment of land to some influential organisations and individuals by the previous governments. The same is the case with the Bondajan wetland, where schools and colleges have been also set up. This government being a decisive one, can definitely take a strong stand and clear Silsako Beel and Bondajan wetland in one go. Genuine citizens should not suffer because of encroachers.