The Gauhati High Court has recently put forward certain measures for the State Government to consider regarding the safeguarding, enhancement, and beautification of the Deepor Beel lake’s biodiversity.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Suman Shyam, presented these suggestions in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that brought attention to the various challenges and issues affecting the protection of the Deepor Beel water body.
This lake serves as a habitat for numerous rare and endangered species of plants, animals, and birds. The petitioners (Pramod Kalita & 2 Ors) have raised concerns about the uncontrolled dumping of waste and sewage into the lake, posing a severe threat to its very existence.
In its affidavits, the State Government has expressed its keenness and commitment to ensuring the preservation, enhancement, and aesthetic improvement of the water body. The government intends to accomplish this while adhering to the provisions of the Wetland Protection Act, 1972.
About
Deepor Beel is a significant lake with a total area of 40.14 Sq. Kms., out of which 4.1 Sq. Kms. was designated as a wildlife sanctuary by the Assam government in 1989. This lake holds the status of a wetland under the “Ramsar Convention,” and in November 2002, it was enlisted as a Ramsar Site due to its environmental and biological importance. This designation aims to facilitate conservation measures for the lake. Surrounding the lake, there are 12 villages located on its periphery.
The suggestions
The bench has noted that the following measures and suggestions, if taken into account and applied, can significantly contribute to the protection, beautification, and enhancement of the biodiversity of the lake:
Advocate General D. Saikia assured the court of the State Government’s tremendous concern for the lake’s conservation and proposed filing an affidavit to formally accept and implement the suggestions.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on 24 August, 2023.
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