NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Nov 13 - The existence of the famed Satajan wetland in Lakhimpur district, known for migratory birds from faraway places in the winter season on the banks of the Ranganadi river, was under threat due to a road project that was being carried out by Lakhimpur APWD-Rural Roads under the Assam Darshan scheme. However, objection by various environmental organisations have made the district administration divert the project away from the wetland.
In January this year, the Lakhimpur Rural Roads Division of the APWD called for tender for the construction of the road for the Satajan Bird Sanctuary for the year 2019-20. The work on the Rs 53,03,759 project was started on a preexisting agriculture bund close to the wetland on the bank of the Ranganadi river under the Nowboicha Revenue Circle of Lakhimpur district, violating the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. The noise made by earth movers and other heavy machinery during the construction, and the frequent movement of various vehicles considerably disturbed the environment of the wetland, which greatly affected the coming of the migratory birds this season. Their numbers have drastically fallen this time.
The project also violated the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. In January, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change had come out with guidelines to support the State governments in the implementation of the rules for conservation and management of wetlands in the country.
The guidelines clarified that all wetlands, irrespective of their location, size, ownership, biodiversity, or ecosystem values, can be notified under the Wetlands Rules, 2017, except river channels, paddy fields, man-made water-bodies specifically constructed for drinking water, aquaculture, salt production, recreation, irrigation purposes, wetlands falling within areas covered under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011.
Similarly, the Ramsar Convention, which is an international intergovernmental treaty for conservation of wetlands, to which India is a signatory, defines wetlands as �areas of marsh, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which, at low tides, does not exceed six meters.�
The Satajan wetland falls under these definitions. It is a unique habitat of aquatic flora and fauna with as many as 34 species of residential and 13 species of long-distance and altitude migratory birds. The wetland is known as the breeding ground of lesser and large whistling teal, white-breasted water hen and bronze-winged jacana. It is also the nesting ground of the Indian purple moorhen and coots and the visiting site of the endangered white eyed pochard, a migratory bird from the Pacific Siberia.
The threat to the wetland due to the road project prompted various conservation groups of Lakhimpur to complain before the authority. Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Dr Jeevan B intervened in the matter following the complains and initiated steps to protect the wetland. He asked the Lakhimpur APWD to stop the road construction on the agriculture bund and divert it 15 metres away from the wetland towards the Ranganadi river. He also suggested plantation of trees in the area between the road and the bund.
However, apprehension remains among Nature lovers following the Lakhimpur APWD�s stand on the project. The executive engineer of the Lakhimpur APWD, on being asked, said that the road on the agriculture bund would be converted into a walking zone. However, this will also be a violation of all the existing environmental protection laws.
There have been allegations that the road construction work was going on during night time as well, despite the initiatives taken by the Deputy Commissioner.
