A watchtower and cottages under construction on the bank of Samaguri Beel. Picture by Sarat Sarma

Nagaon, June 20: A Nagaon lake famous for its winged winter guests is about to become an all-season destination for tourists with the government planning to set up Assam?s biggest water theme park there.

Apart from the usual theme-park accoutrements for adults and children ? paddle boats, a houseboat and a toy train, to name a few ? the massive Samaguri Beel will have a floating restaurant, a few cottages and watchtowers for birdwatchers.

Indigenous food will be served in the restaurant and those who visit the spot to watch birds in winter can spend a night in the cottages.

The project will be completed in August, well before the arrival of the migratory birds in October. ?It has been designed in such a way that the avian population will not be disturbed. Watchtowers in strategic places will allow visitors to watch the birds frolicking in the beel (lake),? said Mukut Moni Saikia, a member of the committee that maintains the lake.

Forest minister Rockybul Hussain, one of the initiators of the project, said the district administration was considering various options to make the spot more attractive to tourists. ?We will be moving Delhi for additional funds for the project,? he added.

Samaguri Beel spans 47 square km and is just 40 km from Nagaon town. The Nagaon administration is monitoring the progress of the Rs 1.36-crore development project. A six-member committee headed by the deputy commissioner has been formed to oversee construction.

One of the threats to the existence of Samaguri Beel has been encroachment from all sides. Bipul Kotoky, who teaches zoology at Nowgong College, believes the water theme park could actually save the lake. ?I think the project is a wise step towards protecting the eco-system.?

Environmentalist Simanta Goswami said the administration should ensure that any development plan does not affect the migratory birds visiting the lake. ?Till last year, various species of migratory ducks from Siberia, central Asia and Russia were seen in the lake. The species we have recorded include garganey, mallard and northern shoveller, pin-tail duck, large whistle duck and wide-eyed toucher.?

Goswami is a member of the NGO Green Guard.