GUWAHATI, Dec 29 - Environmental NGO Aaranyak has expressed deep concern over some of the resort development activities in the Nimati-Kokilamukh area in Jorhat district, which is deemed unconducive for the presence of several globally-threatened bird species and their habitat.
The area where these resorts are being developed falls within the wetland and grassland habitat of some of the globally-threatened bird species such as the swamp francolin, common pochard, marsh babbler and yellow-breasted bunting, among others. It provides breeding and wintering ground to more than 200 species of birds.
The Nimati-Kokilamukh area falls within the Jhanjimukh-Kokilamukh Important Bird Area (IBA), recognised by Birdlife International and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) as part of a worldwide assessment and home to as many as 26 globally-threatened species of birds.
�It is a major concern that these resorts are permitted to be developed at such crucial bird habitat and also being allowed to operate day and night, with loud music and assemblage of crowd at an unsustainable scale,� Aaranyak stated in a press release.
Udayan Borthakur, wildlife biologist and executive committee member of Aaranyak, who is a resident of Jorhat district, has appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Jorhat through a letter for immediate review of the situation and stop such activities from further damaging the habitat and causing serious disturbance to the presence of rare and threatened species of birds.
