20 sq km area in Agaratoli Range eroded in 3 decades
Staff Reporter
Guwahati: In the three decades between 1994 and 2024, an area of around 20 sq. km in Agaratoli Range of the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (KNP&TR) was gobbled up by the river Brahmaputra. This worrying fact was revealed by the Inspector General of Forest (Wildlife) in the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife.
It should be mentioned here that the Assam government had earlier submitted a proposal to the National Board for Wildlife to use an area of 19.9554 hectares (ha) of forest land for mitigation measures at Agaratoli Range to protect (KNP&TR) from erosion by the Brahmaputra River. The proposal of the Assam government was discussed at the recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
According to the minutes of the meeting, the Inspector General of Forests (Wildlife) pointed out that between 1994 and 2024, almost a 20 sq.km area has been eroded at Agaratoli Range of KNP&TR.
During the meeting, the Standing Committee was informed that the proposal is for use of 19.95 ha of forest area for mitigation measures at Agaratoli Range to protect the KNP&TR from erosion of the Brahmaputra River on its left bank using geo-mattresses, geo-bags and pre-stressed cement concrete porcupines in Golaghat District, Assam.
The proposal has been recommended by the Chief Wildlife Warden, the State Board for Wildlife and the state government. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has also recommended the proposal with certain conditions. The proposal is for bank protection and habitat management works. It was stated that the project would be implemented by the State Forest Department.
Dr R. Sukumar, an NBWL member, mentioned that riverbanks of the Brahmaputra have eroded to quite a large extent. These are measures to protect riverbanks. In certain areas, the erosion is for almost three kilometres, he said.
After discussions, the Standing Committee approved the proposal for use of 19.95 ha of forest area with certain conditions, like minimal felling of trees and that the proposed mitigation measures shall be completed in 1 (one) working season.
It was also stated that no adverse impact shall be caused to the wild animals and their habitats during implementation of the project, the activities of which shall take place between sunset and sunrise.
Regular monitoring of the project implementation and its impact has to be carried out by the KNP & TR authorities jointly with the Water Resource Department, Golaghat.
All interventions are required to incorporate animal passage plans, ensuring uninterrupted movement for species like tigers, elephants, and swamp deer.
Moreover, the User Agency has to prepare a wildlife contingency plan for handling any unforeseen wildlife incidents, particularly involving elephants and tigers, as well as designate and maintain safe passages for dispersing tigers and elephants to facilitate their movement between habitats.
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