GUWAHATI, Dec 19 � Participants of a scientific seminar organized by the Rotary Clubs of Guwahati here today, called for urgent measures, like removal of the garbage dump and encroachment from its inner and fringe areas, to save the Deepor Beel, the lone Ramsar Site wetland of the State.
However, State Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das told them that a steering committee has already been put in place for the purpose of management of the wetland system. The Chief Secretary inaugurated the function.
Further, the participants of the function were told by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) representatives that it is working for a comprehensive action plan to restore and develop the water body.
The participants included renowned environmental scientists like Prof Parimal Chandra Bhattacharjee, Dr Dhrubajyoti Ghosh, who is a UN Global 500 Laureate for his outstanding achievement in conserving the East Calcutta Wetlands, Dr A K Pattnaik, who is the Chief Executive of the Chilika Development Authority, Ibobi Singh, who is the Project Director of the Loktak Development Authority, several other members of the scientific community, leading citizens and local community members.
Initiating the discussion, Prof Parimal Bhattacharjee, who took the lead in highlighting the wetland in the international forums, said that the wetlands of the State have the potential to perform miracles for the State in the economic front. He therefore, made a fervent appeal to the people not to lead the wetlands to death.
Prof Bhattacharjee reminded the gathering that wetlands are seven to eight times more productive compared to the forests. But, he regretted, the State with around 3,500 wetlands covering around one lakh hectares of land, has no wetland department.
Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das laid stress on striking a balance between development and management of the State's ecosystems. For, the State needs to conserve its environment and at the same time it also needs to develop, he said.
He also suggested that the fears of the people living in the vicinity of Deepor Beel that conservation efforts would harm them should be allayed.
Addressing the first technical session, Dr Dhrubajyoti Ghosh said that the management action plan of the wetland should be in the public domain and its boundary should also be put in a right kind of map.
The management authorities should have adequate number of representations from the people depending on the Deepor Beel wetland system and prioritized list of activities should be prepared before undertaking any management activity, he said.
Making a presentation Dr A K Pattnaik said that once the Chilika also faced similar problems. It was withdrawn form the Ramsar Site list. But a right management plan helped it win the Ramsar Site Award later on.
Ibobi Singh said that the important lesson he has learnt from Loktak management is that the community should be in the forefront in wetland management.
Dr Prasanta Saikia of the Gauhati University Zoology Department, S K Seal Sarma of the Forest Department, Dr Bhupen Das and Nripen Das from among the local community, Dr Sabitri Bordoloi of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Science and Technology, Dr Anil Kumar Mahanta, president of the Rotary Club of Guwahati South, Dr Balen Das, Dr Umesh Goswami and Digen Barua, among others, took part in the discussion.
Noted academician Prof Anil Kumar Goswami, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mohan Chandra Malakar, Col Manoranjan Goswami chaired the first and second technical sessions and the interactive session respectively.
