Waterworld: A view of Deepor Beel

Nov. 27: Deepor Beel’s unspoken appeal for relief from further depredation has received a global response.

Global Response, an international environmental and education network from the UK, has agreed to take up the issue of the wetland’s preservation and to draw international attention to it.

The decision was taken after students and faculty of the environmental management course at North Dakota State University submitted a Save Deepor Beel Campaign Request Document to Global Response.

The document highlighted the dangers threatening the wetland and said the sustainable management of Deepor Beel is important not only for the wetland itself, but also for the benefit of the entire eco-system of the state.

In addition, the proper management of the wetland could serve as a model for other wetlands in the region.

A teleconference was held at the office of the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (Astec) recently, attended by Achintya N. Bezbarua, faculty of the North Dakota State University, USA, Paula Palmer, executive director of Global Response, USA, members of non-governmental organisations and the officials of the council.

An official of the council, who participated in the teleconference, said the director of Global Response has agreed to launch a global campaign to highlight the threat faced by the wetland. The main problems plaguing the wetland are the indiscriminate dumping of garbage, land settlement in and around the area and the lack of a comprehensive management plan.

Deepor Beel was declared a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2002 while the Birdlife International, UK, has included the wetland as an Outstanding Important Bird Area (IBA), in 2004.

Members of various NGOs and faculty of North Dakota University have suggested that the campaign should start before the end of the year.

Winter is the time when land filling and civil construction is at its peak in the area around the wetland, when the water comes down to its lowest level. The official said Global Response would soon ask its members throughout the world to write letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, MP from Assam, and chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

The letters will request the declaration of the wetland as a protected area with fishing rights to indigenous tribes and fisherman communities and initiate a comprehensive management plan with adequate institutional arrangements. The organisation will also appeal for an end to the dumping of garbage by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the restoration of the wetland’s earlier state.

Finally, an appeal would be made to stop any further land use change, civil construction, and land settlement in and around the wetland and to cancel all government allotted pattas (settlements).

Director of Astec A.K. Baruwa had briefed Global Response on the Management Action Plan being implemented by it on behalf of the state government.