Encroachment of forest lands
The news item, 'Encroachment of forest lands: Assam tops the list,' published in your esteemed daily on February 5, has shocked every nature lover. According to the latest information from the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Assam tops the list with the encroachment of 2,13,254.91 hectares of forest lands, followed by Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh. Sadly, today, the land of Blue Hills and Red River, Assam, which is popularly known for its famed wildlife and overall biodiversity in the entire Northeast region, has only 4.07 percent forest cover. A substantial portion of the state's dense forests has been lost forever during the past three decades to large-scale encroachment and illegal logging. The scenario of the Reserve Forest (RFs) and Proposed Reserve Forest (PRFs) is the worst in the state. At present, RFs and PRFs have been under large-scale organized encroachment without any effective protective mechanism. Political backing has often made the matter worse. Native forests are crucial for conserving biodiversity, but, surprisingly, they are pooled with commercial plantations, which results in endangering biodiversity and natural forests. Prevention of our valuable natural resources from various encroachments by the state Forest Department, which include the survey and demarcation of forest areas, the fixing of strong pillars along forest boundaries, and regular intensified patrolling by field staff, should be given topmost priority. The importance of extensive use of modern technology such as geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems to check encroachment in the forest areas must be considered without any further delay to put an end to the deplorable conditions of our forest lands.
Iqbal Saikia,
Guwahati.
Monsoon preparations for Guwahati’s drainage system
As the monsoon season arrives, Guwahati faces the same old problem—waterlogging. Every year, heavy rain floods different parts of the city, making life difficult for everyone. Roads get inundated with water, houses are affected, and people have to struggle just to get through their day. The main reason for this is the city’s poor drainage system, which cannot handle the extra rainwater. Areas like GS Road, Paltan Bazar, Chandmari, and Zoo Road suffer the most. Walking or driving in these places becomes a big challenge, with vehicles getting stuck and people forced to wade through dirty water. But the problem is not just about inconvenience—stagnant water also spreads diseases, putting public health at risk. The situation gets worse because drains are often blocked with plastic and garbage, caused by both poor maintenance and careless dumping.
With the monsoons approaching, we cannot afford to ignore this issue. The authorities need to take quick action—cleaning drains regularly, making waste disposal rules stricter, and planning for a better drainage system. But solving this problem is not just their job. As citizens, we should also do our part by keeping our surroundings clean and not throwing garbage into drains.
I really hope this issue gets the attention it deserves before things get worse. A proper drainage system is not just an improvement—it is a basic need for a growing city like Guwahati, where life should not come to a stop every time it rains.
Trinav Arandhara
Cotton University, Guwahati
Allocation in budget for Career Guidance Cells
The government should allocate funds in the budget for the establishment of Career Guidance Cells in public libraries across the state. This initiative will empower the Directorate of Library Services, Government of Assam, to procure selected career-related resources such as books, guides, newspapers, magazines, and other materials and distribute them to all district and sub-divisional libraries.
These Career Guidance Cells should regularly invite experts from various fields to conduct career counselling sessions, providing young individuals with direct access to professional advice and insights. Furthermore, integrating these cells with digital platforms will enable youth to access career-related information and guidance online, ensuring wider reach and convenience. Such measures are anticipated to play a pivotal role in the state's human resource development, equipping the younger generation with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed career decisions and fostering overall growth and progress.
Dr. Buljit Buragohain,
Azara, Guwahati.
Pragg’s win over Gukesh
19-year-old Indian chess wizard Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the Tata Steel chess tournament, considered the Wimbledon of the game, at Netherlands' Wijk aan Zee. The Indian Grandmaster overcame his compatriot, world champion S. Gukesh, in a hard-fought tiebreaker by two games to one. Pragg did exceedingly well in the tournament by winning six, drawing five, and losing only two games, the defeat against German Vincent Keymer in the penultimate game being quite unexpected. It must be a very satisfying first major win for the hugely talented Pragg. The Chennai youngster is justifiably ecstatic following the win—Anand had won Tata Steel Chess five times—and this should spur him to greater heights.
Pragg is one player whom the giant chess talent Magnus Carlsen respects a lot. Instead of exploiting the opponent's mistake, Pragg's hunger to win on his own ability is his speciality. Also, to win from a seemingly tough situation against top players is a rare trait of the Indian. Fearlessness is the key to success for a sportsperson, and Pragg possesses it in abundance. Although his attacking game has been hailed by the game's stalwarts, preparation, perseverance, patience, and planning are his strong points. The fifth youngest Grandmaster ever, Pragg is further polishing his skills under Anand and should go all the way.
Dr Ganapathi Bhat
(gbhat13@gmail.com)