Hundreds of Cattle Egrets die as Tangla Municipal Board clears bamboo groves

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: In a bizarre incident, nearly 250 number of Cattle Egrets and migratory birds were killed after the Tangla Municipal Board had ordered for clearing of bamboo groves with the birds in private lands in Tangla town of Udalguri district on Thursday.

According to reports, the municipal authorities had sent notice on June 8 vide Memo no. -0505TMB/2019/20/98 to five citizens holding private lands in Ward No. 1 and 2 of Tangla town wherein the signatory Executive Officer, Tangla Municipal Board had asserted that, "The egrets nestling at the bamboo grove in the land have added to the risk of spreading coronavirus, creating an unhygienic condition with their droppings and it is advised to the land holders to cut down the bamboo groves to create a hygienic environment."

Following the notice, the chairman of Tangla Municipal Board, Dilip Boro had ordered for clearing of the bamboo groves in the private land of Lokajit Sutar of Ward No. 1 of Tangla town of Udalguri district on Thursday near the residence of Tangla Municipal Board chairman-cum-Khalingduar BTR Member Council of Legislative Assembly (MCLA), Dilip Boro.

Udalguri Deputy Commissioner Dr. Uday Praveen on Friday morning visited the site and ordered the municipal authorities to stop further cutting of bamboo groves and also directed Harisinga Revenue Circle Officer, Manisha Nath to submit a report regarding the incident. Praveen also facilitated the shifting of nearly 160 Cattle Egret chicks to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga.

Chief Minister Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma has also reportedly asked State Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya to inquire into the matter. The Tangla Municipal Board chairman-cum-Khalingduar MCLA, Dilip Boro said that the bamboo groves were cleared based on public complaint of foul smell and odour from the droppings of the birds which had created an unhygienic condition.

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