DIBRUGARH, June 9 � Bird lovers, canoeing sports enthusiasts and tourists will soon have an ideal destination for outing, holiday sojourn, jungle stroll and even more in the district. Not in any lush topographic zone but on picturesque wetland.
Merbeel, a scenic rich wetland with an island within is likely to become one of the mosts sought after tourist destinations. This unique natural water body surrounding a small forest is located in Sassani revenue block of the district, some 70 kilometres from here. The island measures about 933 bighas. The wetland connected to Burhidehing river is endowed with extensive water resources.
This wetland is considered to be one of the most potential tourist destination from among some 25 beels within the district. The scenic wetland and a forest island within it is a home to about 200 species of birds, Some of the rare birds seen in the wetland are Black Francolin, Grey Francolin, Swamp Francolin, Common Quail, Lesser whistling-duck, Bean Goose, Greylag Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Sarus Crane, Eurasian Woodcock and Purple Heron etc.. Assam roofed turtle, Brown roofed turtle and the Indian Soft Shell Turtle are also found in this wetland besides varities of butterflies, fishes, reptiles, python, common rat snake, viper etc.
In the waterbody, which is about 4.7 kilometres, canoeing will be promoted as a sport and competitions both in the district level and state level will be held, according to divisional forest officer Anurag Singh. G D Tripathi, the Deputy Commissioner has already promised to extend financial support for the conservation through NGREGA scheme. �There is no dearth of funds and therefore we are hoping to begin works by September,� DFO who has sent a proposal for declaring the beel as conservation reserve and converting it to a eco-tourist centre told this newspaper. Once Merbeel is declared conservation reserve, the wetland will get a protected area status.
Divisional forest officer said eco-tourists facilities like eco-lodges on the water side, angling and camouflaged tree houses for birders would be constructed. Lodging facilities like tree houses, eco-lodges, eco-tents and eco-fooding lodge, hanging bridges would also come up to make the area a complete tourists paradise, Singh said, adding that fishing for sport, photography training and canoeing would be regular events. The forest department is planning to bring Merbeel to limelight during the proposed Jeypore rain-forest festival in December.
Meanwhile, local villagers have shown immense interest towards conservation efforts. Moni Manik Gogoi, a known social worker of Dighalia is taking the lead to mobilise local resources for the protection of the rich water body and the forest island within. He has also succeeded in persuading Oil India Limited (OIL) for financial support. Lila Saikia, a successful farmer of the area has donated one lakh fingerlings for release in the beel.
