GUWAHATI, May 16 � The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has marked all the water bodies of Guwahati and put up signboards prohibiting encroachment on them.
The signboard notifies the natural reservoirs as protected areas under Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act, 2008.
The water bodies include Borsola Beel, Bondajan Beel, Deepor Beel, Sorusala Beel and Silsako Beel.
Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro) told The Assam Tribune that the administration has put up signboards to discourage activities like filling up of the water body by anything which may cause damage or reduce the size of the water body.
The notice also prohibits activities like construction or erection of any structure, extension or reinforcement of any building upon the water body or carrying out of any kind of business except fish curing, aqua culture, conservation measure and flood water measures, that too with the specific prior permission of the competent authority.
An official statement stated that the violation may lead to imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or fine which may extend to Rs 50,000 or both.
The statement also categorically stated that any person found abetting any of these offences shall also be liable for the same punishment as provided for the offence.
Further, the offences committed under the Act shall be treated as cognizable offence under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and be tried accordingly, official sources added.
Meanwhile, the District Administration has already launched a crackdown on those who are illegally settled near water bodies.
�Today itself, we have arrested eight persons for violating the prescribed norms and the Police Department has been asked to keep a strict vigil. Certain areas had already been evicted,� the sources asserted.
It needs mention here that the District Administration had already cautioned a number of government officials, including police officers, who are allegedly occupying government land and had encroached areas of water bodies.
�Anybody found guilty will be tried under the provisions of law, irrespective of the position he or she occupies,� the sources said.
