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Jorhat to protect water-bodies, greeneries

By Pankaj Borthakur

JORHAT, June 22 � Several water-bodies, wetlands and historical ponds that have been keeping the entire city and its surrounding rural areas cool and verdant during the summer season are proposed to be protected for the first time by the district administration under the provisions of the Assam Hill Land and Ecological Sites (Protections and Management) Act, 2006.

Data received from the disaster management cell of the district stated that over 4,500 bighas of land in the wetlands, ponds and other bodies have been identified by the circle officers of five revenue circles � Jorhat East, Jorhat West, Majuli, Mariani and Teok. These remained unprotected for decades despite being enriched with biodiversities and greeneries.

The identified areas for protection in the Jorhat East revenue circle include 10 bighas of historic Rajmao Pukhuri, Raja Maidam and two other land areas of 19 bighas 11 lessas in Charigaon and Ailamukh.

The Jorhat West revenue circle has proposed more than 418 bighas of land area near Malow Pam Gaon, 48 bighas of green land in Ronga Gora, Khuti Gaon under Parbatia mouza, over 20 bighas near the popular religious institution Borbheti in Sarucharai mouza and the Kotoki Pukhuri in the city.

River-island Majuli has the maximum number of water-bodies and marshland in the district which have been proposed to be protected. About 2,820 bighas of land area have been identified in the water-bodies of Hawli, Rangachali, Laholial, Jengrai Miri, Bukajan Pam, Motiabari, Dakshinpat Satra, Pohumora and Dhua Chala area of Kamalabari and Salmora area of the river-island. The Mariani revenue circle has identified 100 bighas of lad at Gabharu Parbat and three other land areas in Rajapukhuri, Railway Pukhuri and Krantidweep locality.

The proposed areas for protection in the Teok revenue circle include the wetland area of over 626 bighas at Changmai Garh, 212 bighas at No. 2 Kawoimari village and some other water bodies in Da Gaya Gaon, Robi Gaon and Dulia Gaon.

�We have sent the proposal to the higher authorities of the Revenue and Disaster Management departments. All these areas were identified to be protected under the provisions of the Assam Hill Land and Ecological Sites (Protection and Management) Act 2006, �said additional deputy commissioner Bubul Lekharu.

Another officer said that encroachment in the green lands and water-bodies will be prevented with strict measures once those areas are notified to be protected in the district.

Expressing concern over the district administration�s latest initiatives for protection of biodiversities, several environmental activists of the district opined that implementation of the provisions of the Act was felt to be the utmost duty of the administration earlier as some of the wetlands were allegedly encroached.

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