Rupohi Pothar in Sivasagar needs to be preserved as sanctuary of avian guests
SIVASAGAR, Dec 1 - The vast, low-laying expanse of Rupohi Pothar on the northern side of the historic Bor Ali in Rudrasagar area of Sivasagar is an avian paradise, especially during the winter. Come November, and these two fields, as well as the historic Pohugarh in the east along the Mankata Ali, get a carnival atmosphere with the honking of geese and interesting sounds of varied species of water fowls.
Swargadeo Rudra Singha had built Pohugarh as a natural zoo more than three centuries ago. The largest congregation of the winged visitors takes place at Pohugarh, which has already been given a special status by the Sivasagar district administration. However, the sprawling Rupohi Pothar is equally important, being a resting place preferred by the migratory birds every winter.
Rupohi Pothar is especially famous for the existence of the historic Rongghar on its eastern side. In the area, originally there was a vast water-body named Rupohi Beel, which was rich in biodiversity being home to varieties of fish and aquatic insects. But, in the course of time, especially after the mega earthquake of 1950, the Beel dried up, and thereafter, deposition of silt and mud continued to make it shallow.
Yet, the winged guests from far-off lands, following the path their predecessors had taken, continue to come to this place although it has been reduced to a mere pond now. On November 28, this correspondent was delighted to see hundreds of pochards, herons, bar-headed geese, grey-legged geese, ruddy shelducks, whistling teals, cotton teals, coots, moorhens, waterhens and a lone open-billed stork around the small water-body in the middle of Rupohi Pothar.
The ONGC, Assam Asset, constructed a road through Rupohi Pothar linking Dhuliapar to the northeast corner of Puroni Pukhuri to facilitate carrying of pipes and other materials from its storage depot on the banks to the exploration fields and the Group Gathering Station at Dicial village. Construction of a pucca road through the swampy field, however, encouraged encroachments, endangering the ecosystem of the area. The number of migratory birds started dwindling.
Killing of birds in the area by unscrupulous people has, however, come down a little, due mainly to the watchful eyes of the members of �Prithvi�, a local NGO. Bijoy Rovi Kashyap, secretary of the NGO, told this correspondent that the group, with the help of the Jaysagar police outpost, recently caught one Biswajit Das red-handed when the youth was catching wild geese to sell them off at the eateries (dhabas). The youth was later sent to jail. The incident has indeed worked as a deterrent for the criminal minds.
A large number of wild ducks and geese are killed every year by such elements in the low-laying fields and ponds existing beside the Panidihing Bird Sanctuary with the help of pesticides and nematicides. Last year, 12 bar-headed geese (anser indicus) were found floating on the watefront of Jaysagar Borpukhuri and scores of other birds were found flapping their wings and gasping for breath, until workers from the forest department rescued them and took them away for treatment.
Jayshree Naidung, DFO, Sivasagar, told this correspondent on Monday that forest guards have been posted at different locations in the district to monitor the situation and there has been a reduction in the crime. But, the forest department must ensure support of the local NGOs and villagers if the winged visitors are to be protected.
The birds will have a safe haven if the government announces a second bird sanctuary in the district, including the historic man-made tanks and the low-laying fields in the Rudrasagar-Jaysagar area.
