Deepor Beel biodiversity: HC proposes measures for protection and beautification

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: A division bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Suman Shyam has suggested to the Assam Government a slew of measures for the protection, beautification, and enhancement of the biodiversity of Deepor Beel.

The High Court said this after hearing a PIL (18/2023) by Pramod Kalita and two others. The PIL highlights a very significant issue regarding the protection of the Deepor Beel, which is a very important water body as a freshwater lake in Guwahati city and is also a Ramsar site. The National Green Tribunal took up the issue pertaining to the construction of a railway line adjacent to the northern boundary of Deepor Beel.

However, the petitioners have tried to highlight various other issues and challenges being faced in the protection of this pristine water body of immense importance to the State of Assam, which is home to several rare and endangered species of plants, animals, birds, etc. The petitioners have also highlighted the fact that uncontrolled dumping of waste and sewerage is being made into the lake, which is threatening its very existence.

The total area of the lake is 40.14 sq. km, of which an area of 4.1 sq. km was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the Government of Assam in 1989.

The High Court suggested (i) to consider the construction of a promenade (promod bhromon marg), a cycling track, and a walking track on the entire periphery of the lake. Once the promenade, including the cycling track, etc., is established, the possibility of organising sporting events at the national and international levels can be explored; (ii) all possibilities of encroachments being made in and around the lake will be curbed with the establishment of the permanent encumbrance on the lake periphery; (iii) to consider setting up dedicated facilities for promoting tourism, viz. food courts, entertainment zones, parks, etc., alongside the promenade; (iv) it has been observed that a significant area of the lake remains covered by water hyacinth, which is a highly invasive aquatic plant. There is strong scientific evidence to show that the growth of this invasive plant species reduces the dissolved oxygen and increases toxicity in the water, thereby endangering the aquatic life of the lake, which in turn is bound to have a chain reaction on the birds, which survive on food sources within the lake. Thus, the State Government may consider systematic and planned removal of water hyacinth from the lake; (v) the extracted water hyacinth can be put to use for making a variety of handicraft items, viz. bags, mats, etc., and an entire handicraft industry can thrive in this manner, which is definitely a highly eco-friendly activity. This would also result in the development of employment opportunities; (vi) to consider the introduction of boating activities by non-fossil fuel powered vehicles, viz. rowing boats, paddle boats, and electrically powered boats, for promoting tourism in the lake; (vii) at all entry points from where sewerage water or other effluents flow into the lake, sewerage treatment plants be set up so that the possibility of discharge of harmful chemicals or pollutants into the lake can be minimized. No solid waste dumping is to be allowed in and around the lake; (viii) the level of the lake's water increases during the monsoon and recedes immediately thereafter. The State Government may consider the possibility of maintaining the water table of the lake at a particular level by lifting water from the Brahmaputra river, if required, so that the fauna and flora thriving in the lake can be maintained at the optimum level; (ix) once the mechanism to maintain the optimum water level in the lake is put into place, the State Government may think of organising aquatic sports, like rowing, kayaking, etc., without involving fossil fuel-powered vessels or crafts. (x) commercial fishing activities, if any, being carried on in the lake may be curtailed or regulated; (xi) implementation of the above measures would give a tremendous boost to the tourism and associated sections in addition to providing significant avenues of investment, employment, and eco-friendly development of the entire area surrounding the lake; and (xii) the setting up of the cycle track and introduction of aquatic sports is bound to draw the interest of sports enthusiasts in the country and abroad, and thus, there will be an imminent possibility of hosting sporting events of significance in the lake and on the tracks so constructed.

The Advocate General of Assam, on instructions, submitted that the State Government also has tremendous concern for the conservation of the lake. He has proposed to file an affidavit to bring on record the stand of the State Government regarding acceptance and implementation.

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