Jhagrarpar Beel in Dhubri

Dhubri, Nov. 4: A polluted and hyacinth-filled beel (lake) will be cleaned up and turned into an eco-tourism destination if the Dhubri-Gouripur Development Authority manages to get the ambitious Rs 1-crore project sanctioned.

The plan, sent to the Union ministry of urban development through the state town and country planning department, lays emphasis on restoration of ecological balance of Jhagrarpar Beel.

Surrounded by Dhubri civil hospital, the All India Radio station, Dhubri indoor stadium, Dhubri sports complex, Ram Krishana Seva Ashram and Dhubri BEd College, the beel is centrally located with easy access through GTB Road leading to National Highway 31.

Though the immediate project is to restore the beel’s ecological balance, there are also plans to turn it into a potential hub of sport, culture and business.

The project has proposed a boating deck, tourist lodge, cafeteria, eco-hatchery, footbridge, besides angling facilities and basic civic amenities.

The chairman of the Dhubri-Gouripur Development Authority, Parshuram Dubey, said the Netai Dhubini-Mahabeer-Chilarai Park along the bank of the Brahmaputra was hardly adequate to provide recreation to the town’s vast population.

Hence, they came up with the idea of turning the unhygienic and hyacinth-filled lake into an eco-tourism spot.

“Besides, unabated encroachment has eaten up areas on the northern side of the beel. Though the original area was 35.86 bighas, it was found to be much less when measured recently,” Dubey said.

Director of an NGO, Nature’s Friend, Kulodhar Das, said the Dhubri district fisheries department, under which the beel falls, has been earning revenue by leasing out land surrounding it.

“Most of the wetlands under the fisheries department are facing severe ecological crisis because of lack of maintenance. Hyacinth and other vegetation dry up and settle on the bed, raising the bed and affecting aquatic life,” Das added.

He said they have been campaigning for preservation and protection of all the wetlands in Dhubri, including the Sareswar Beel near Gouripur which is one of the largest in Asia and is home to hundreds of local and migratory birds.