Worst, fish dying in Deepor Beel!

From our Correspondent

AZARA, Nov 14: Is Dispur a master at the fish tale? There’re enough reasons to raise such a question. Various species of fish are found dead in Deepor for the past three days. This is a slap in the face of Dispur’s move to declare Deepor Beel an eco-sensitive zone.

Local fish species like Rohu, Mrigella, Catla (bokua), Kurhi, Wallago (Borali) etc., are found dead in the Ramsar Site for the past three days. The death of fish species in the Beel is untural. The local people, who largely depend on fish of the Beel, are a worried lot for fishing being their occupation. They say that the water of the Beel is black and poisonous due to pollution.

The local people of Sakardou say: “Dispur never lays importance on Deepor Beel, and the cause of death of fish lies there. The administration drains out all dirty water of the city into the Beel.”

Deepor Beel Panchpara Masmoria Samabai Samiti secretary Pradip Kumar Das said: “The death of fish is a threat to the biodiversity hotspot. The cause of death of fish is water pollution. The death of fish will make the situation worse as decayed fish will pollute the water even more. This will have a cascading effect on the visit of migratory birds to the Ramsar site. We feel itching after fishing in the Beel. Sometimes, we find sore spots in our bodies after fishing in Deepor Beel. I think this is enough for one to gauge the gravity of water pollution in the wetland.”  

Blaming it on the GMC and the GMDA, Paribesh Sangbedanshil Khetra Birodhi Mancha general secretary Promod Kalita said: “Mainly the GMC and the GMDA are responsible for the wetland coming to such a pass. The death of fish was also reported in 2014 and 2015. At that time the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) washed its hand of the incident just by collecting samples of water from the Beel. As though to cap it all, the GMC is now planning to drain out city water to Deepor via the polluted Bharalu river. If this plan is translated into reality, the Ramsar Site will be polluted more. Apart from fish and migratory birds, the wetland has numerous aquatic plants.”

The local people want State Forest and Environment Minister Pramila Rani Brahma and local MLA RN Kalita visit the wetland and do something tangible.