GUWAHATI, Feb 2 - World Wetlands Day was observed today at the Deepor Beel under the aegis of North East Wetland in association with Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan ME School, Chakardo. Forest officials also participated in the programme.
Twenty-five students of the school conducted a cleanliness drive along with the NGO and forest officials. They planted 25 Bakul saplings near the wetland.
North East Wetland president and honorary wildlife warden Alkesh Sam Kashyap, DFO PK Saharia, journalist Nasiruddin Ahmed, school principal Bimal Medhi, wildlife activists Hirok Jyoti Saikia, Ranjan Saikia and Suhan Malik took part in the proceedings.
A quiz for the students was another highlight of the programme. Books on nature and wildlife were distributed among the winners. The meeting held on the occasion demanded immediate shifting of the existing garbage site from near the Deepor Beel.
Voice of Environment also organised an event titled �Wetland Day for Biodiversity� at Deepor Beel. The event held in collaboration with the Department of Forest, Government of Assam, Department of Environmental Science, Royal Global University, Guwahati and Colours of North-Eastern India featured an interactive dialogue on wetlands and biodiversity, followed by a series of events including a community walk conducted and led by Partha Sarathi Dhar and Bhaskar Hazarika.
The Assam Environmental NGO Forum, an apex body of 12 nature and wildlife-related NGOs, observed World Wetlands Day at Khamranga Beel located between Thakurkuchi and Hajongbori village, Chandrapur.
Students from Don Bosco School and Chandrapur High School participated in the event.
Nitul Nath, the coordinator of Aranya Suraksha Samittee, gave an introduction about the significance of the day. Moloy Baruah, the president of Early Birds, narrated the history of Khamranga Beel and its present degradation. Many institutions near the beel have bought cultivable land and built structures which have resultantly hastened the wetland�s degradation.
Mubina Akhtar, secretary, Kaziranga Wildlife Society, explained why wetlands are considered as a lifeline for the continuous existence of human life on the planet.