Steps taken for conservation of ‘Kundil Pakkhi Abashthali’ wetland near Sadiya’s Chapakhowa

Our Correspondent

TINSUKIA: Besides Maguri Beel, another wetland has been identified in Tinsukia district. Close to Sadiya’s Chapakhowa town near the Majgaon Ghat of River Kundil. A large stretch of permanent water body covering an area of 30-40 bighas has of late become the nesting and roosting ground of a variety of bird species and home to large animals.

As poachers began their hunting spree, a few nature-loving conscious people of Sadiya, including journalists, formed an NGO called Seuji Sadiya Senani to work for the conservation of the wetland. For tourists visiting Dr Bhupen Hazarika Setu (Dholla-Sadiya Bridge), this place can be a potential tourist spot in future, observed Bogen Gogoi, president of Sadiya Press Club. A relentless effort of Jatin Buragohain, Romen Borgohain and Bhupen Borgohain to protect the wetland from biodiversity loss is noteworthy.

An observatory tower made of bamboo has been constructed for a sighting of birds which was jointly inaugurated by Superintendent of Police Sadiya, Debojit Deuri, SDO (Civil) Biswajit Phukan and DFO Doomdooma Division, Dileep Deka on Thursday. The wetland, named as Kundil Pakkhi Abashthali, will be nurtured by Sadiya subdivisional administration and Sadiya forest range. The inaugural meeting convened by Seuji Sadiya Senani was attended by Assistant Commissioner Jaharjyoti Pegu, vice-president of Chapakhowa Municipality, Niranjan Parik, Sadiya-Kundil Lekhika Samiti secretary Pranati Gogoi, secretary of Red Cross Society, Gunin Chetia and Sadiya BJP president Judhistir Gogoi.

Apart from common avifauna, endangered white-winged wood duck, turtle and fox have been sighted. The site being close to Arunachal Pradesh and unexplored, presence of new species cannot be ruled out in the wetland, remarked Prof SP Biswas of Dibrugarh University. A major threat has been anticipated from poachers as they have already started capturing chicks for trade and self-consumption, alleged Gogoi.

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