June 26: The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority has chalked out a detailed project report (DPR) to protect and preserve the city’s three waterbodies and develop these for economic benefits.

The report with an estimated cost of around Rs 268.97 crore has been prepared to protect Deepor Beel, Silsako Beel and Sarusola Beel — the three important wetlands whose sizes shrank because of unabated encroachment and dumping of wastes over the years.

The GMDA had engaged Delhi-based private consultancy firm Prem Choudhury and Associates Pvt. Ltd to prepare the report.

According to the project report, the waterbodies will be primarily divided into four zones. These are ecological management zone, eco-tourism zone, economic activities zone as well as social activities zone.

“In Deepor Beel, an area of 8.89 lakh square metre will be declared a nature reserve zone where no construction will be allowed while in rest of the places, it has been planned to develop as public recreation area, handicraft village, nature interpretation area, forest camp, bird watching tower, cycle trail, restaurant, eco-park and fishermen’s village.

“The primary focus of conservation of the lake will be towards checking of further degradation, destruction and pollution of the water and the shoreline. Plans have been chalked out to stop further effluent disposal into the water and dumping of solid waste along with beautification of the periphery to make the area better accessible for end users such as tourists, and researchers,” the DRP, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, said.

According to the plan, Silsako Beel in Chachal will be divided into three parts with two water recreation zones on either side of the ecologically-protected water conservation zone.

“Activity nodes have been identified along the routes acting as access to the natural setting of the lake. In the institution zone on the western side, it has been proposed to develop a museum, an art gallery and a conservatory. Recreational fishing activities are proposed in the northern part of the beel along with a fishermen’s village,” the report said.

The zoning in Sarusola Beel has been done keeping in mind the conservation and preservation along with provisions for tourists, art lovers and those looking for boating. “The existing waterbody has been divided into two water recreation zones, one is a boating area and the other reserved for stormwater management,” the report said.

It has also proposed setting up of an eco park, a nature watch trail, a restaurant, shops for gifts and souvenirs, an information centre, parking space, an art gallery, a museum and a nature interpretative centre,” the report said.

The DPR also suggested that the GMDA take up projects on public-private partnership mode for sustainable protection and use of the waterbodies.

The GMDA officials although termed the DPR an ambitious project for preservation and restoration, NGOs urged the government development agencies to be extra cautious while taking developmental and tourism activities as the three waterbodies are rich in bio-diversity.

“We are always in favour of development of the waterbodies, but the GMDA should be very careful as excessive development activities may disturb the migratory birds which flock to Deepor Beel every year,” S.K. Doloi of Save Guwahati Build Guwahati, an NGO, said.

Leader of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Akhil Gogoi, opposed the proposal for involving private parties for conservation and development of waterbodies for tourism.