Gauhati High Court Asks State To Take Steps To Boost Tourism In Area Surrounding Deepor Beel

The Gauhati High Court on Wednesday suggested certain measures for the consideration of the State Government regarding protection, beautification and enhancement of bio-diversity of the Deepor Beel lake.

The measures were suggested by the division bench of the Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Suman Shyam in a PIL which highlighted the various issues and challenges being faced in the protection of the Deepor Beel water body, which is home to several rare and endangered species of plants, animals and birds. The petitioners further have highlighted that uncontrolled dumping of waste and sewage is being made into the lake which is threatening its very existence.

The State Government, through its affidavits, has expressed its desire and intent to ensure that the water body is protected, beautified and its status enhanced by all means while adhering to the requirements of the Wetland Protection Act, 1972.

About Deepor Beel

The total area of the Deepor Beel Lake is 40.14 Sq. Kms. from which an area of 4.1 Sq. Kms was declared as a wildlife sanctuary by the Assam government in 1989. The lake is known as a wetland under the “Ramsar Convention” which has listed it in November, 2002, as a Ramsar Site for undertaking conservational measures on the basis of its environmental and biological importance. There are 12 villages on the periphery of the lake.

Suggestions

The court observed that if the following measures and suggestions, if taken into consideration and applied, can go a long way in achieving the desired results for the protection, beautification and enhancement of the biodiversity of the lake:

1. to consider construction of promenade (প্ৰমমমোদ ভ্ৰমণ মমোৰৰ), cycling track and walking track on the entire periphery of the lake. Once the promenade, including the cycling track, etc., are established, the possibility of organizing sporting events at the national and international levels can be explored.
2. all possibilities of encroachments being made in and around the lake will be curbed with the establishment of the permanent encumbrance on the lake periphery;
3. to consider setting up of dedicated facilities for promoting tourism, viz. food courts, entertainment zones, parks, etc., alongside the promenade (প্ৰমমমোদ ভ্ৰমণ মমোৰৰ);
4. it has been observed that a significant area of the lake remains covered by water hyacinth, which is a highly invasive aquatic plant. There is strong scientific evidence to show that growth of this invasive plant species reduces the dissolved oxygen and increases toxicity in the water thereby endangering the aquatic life of the lake which in turn is bound to have a chain reaction on the birds, which survive on food sources within the lake. Thus, the State Government may consider systematic and planned removal of water hyacinth from the lake;
5. the extracted water hyacinth can be put to use for making a variety of handicraft items, viz. bags, mats, etc., and an entire handicraft industry can thrive in this manner, which is definitely a highly eco-friendly activity. This would also result into development of employment opportunities;
6. to consider introduction of boating activities by use of non-fossil fuel powered vehicles, viz. rowing boats, paddle boats and electrically powered boats for promoting tourism in the lake;
7. in all entry points from where the sewerage water/other effluents flow into the lake, sewerage treatment plants be set up so that the possibility of discharge of harmful chemicals/pollutants into the lake can be minimized. No solid waste dumping to be allowed in and around the lake;
8. the level of the water of the lake increases during the monsoon and recedes immediately thereafter. The State Government may consider the possibility of maintaining the water table of the lake at a particular level by lifting water from the Brahmaputra river, if required so that the fauna and flora thriving in the lake can be maintained at the optimum level;
9. Once the mechanism to maintain the optimum water level in the lake is put into place, the State Government may think of organizing aquatic sports, like rowing, kayaking, etc., without involving the fossil fuel powered vessels/crafts.
10. commercial fishing activities, if any, being carried on in the lake may be curtailed/regulated.
11. implementation of the above measures would give a tremendous boost to the tourism and associated sections in addition to providing significant avenues of investment, employment and eco-friendly development of the entire area surrounding the lake.
12. Setting up of the cycle track and introduction of the aquatic sports is bound to draw interest of sports enthusiasts in the country and abroad and thus, there will be imminent possibility of hosting sporting events of significance in the lake and on the tracks so constructed.

Advocate General D. Saikia submitted that the State has "tremendous concern for conservations of the lake. He further proposed to file an affidavit to bring on record the stand of the State Government regarding acceptance and implementation of the suggestions.

The matter is listed again on August 24.

Case Title: Pramod Kalita & 2 Ors. v. The Union of India and 17 Ors.

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