GUWAHATI, July 23 � Prominent scientists and environmentalists of the State including Prof PC Bhattacharjee, Prof MM Goswami, and Dr Dilip Sarma, natural resource management consultant, and environmental organization Aaranyak on Friday appealed to the government to reconsider the decision on its clearance given for setting up a distillery on the bank of Dorabeel which is intrinsically linked to the survival of the Kulsi river, home to the Gangetic river dolphin.
It needs to be mentioned here that the union forest and environment ministry has given permission to NV Distillery and Breweries North East Private Ltd to set up a plant on the bank of Dorabeel, a prominent wetland which has been the lifeline of 21 villages dependant on agriculture and fishery for livelihood. The confluence of Dorabeel and Kulsi river is home to the Gangetic river dolphin, a highly endangered species. Dorabeel along with Chandubi, another important wetland, is rich in biodiversity and both domestic as well as foreign tourists have been visiting these sites.
The State government in 2008 had declared the Gangetic river dolphin as the State Aquatic Animal and the Central government in 2009 pronounced it as the National Aquatic Animal.
Dr MM Goswami, adviser of Brihattar Rampur Janaswartha Suraksha Samity which has been opposing the proposed distillery on the bank of Dorabeel, expressed his surprise that clearance has been given for the distillery ignoring the ecological and socio-cultural factors.
�We are not against industrial development. But the requirement of the area and its assets and vulnerability should be studied before setting up any industry. The area around Dorabeel has immense potential for ecotourism and developing fishery, and these should be tapped,� said Dr Goswami addressing media persons here.
The other Samity members alleged that the government departments including the Pollution Control Board, Assam has connived in giving the clearance. The Samity further alleged that the public hearing by the Pollution Control Board, Assam was totally farcical, and has challenged the government to conduct an opinion poll to know whether the people wanted a distillery or preservation of the unique biodiversity.
�The Pollution Control Board, Assam has conducted itself in a very shameful manner. Acting on our written complaint against the public hearing, the then Deputy Commissioner directed the Board to hold the public hearing again. But the Board did not honour the order and the public grievance, and gave its no-objection certificate to the Central government,� the Samity said.
On the other hand, Dr Dilip Sarma pointed out that the proposed distillery will not only threaten the Gangetic river dolphin, but will also destroy the fertility of the arable land, expose the local people to different health hazards and adversely affect the complete food chain.
