Letters to The EDITOR: Waste management in Katahbari

Waste management in Katahbari

I am writing to express my deep concern about the worsening waste management situation in Katahbari, Guwahati.

The littering of waste along the banks of the Bharalu River in Katahbari has become a pressing issue. Due to the lack of proper waste disposal facilities, residents are compelled to dump garbage into the river stream, which serves as a crucial drainage channel for Guwahati. This practice not only pollutes the Bharalu River but also contributes to the contamination of the Brahmaputra River, endangering aquatic life. Furthermore, the accumulation of waste obstructs the water flow, exacerbating the risk of artificial flooding in the city.

The role of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) in waste management in this area has been minimal. However, these challenges could be mitigated by implementing simple yet effective measures such as installing adequate dustbins, ensuring regular garbage collection through trucks, and conducting awareness campaigns for residents.

As a responsible citizen of Guwahati, I want to highlight this pressing issue through your esteemed newspaper to draw the attention of the authority concerned to do the needful for the betterment of all.

Tazammal Hoque

Katahbari, Guwahati

Need to combat pollution in Guwahati

I am writing to express my concern over the rapidly growing pollution problem in Guwahati, which has become a major issue for residents, affecting their health and quality of life. Over the past few years, the levels of air and water pollution in the city have increased significantly, largely due to uncontrolled vehicular emissions, industrial waste, and the indiscriminate disposal of garbage. The air quality in Guwahati has deteriorated to an alarming level, especially during the winter months when fog and pollution combine, leading to a hazardous environment. The rising number of vehicles, combined with the lack of proper infrastructure for waste management, has contributed to this crisis. Additionally, the Brahmaputra River, which is an essential lifeline for the city, is also under severe threat due to pollution from untreated sewage and plastic waste.

It is crucial for the local authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to combat pollution. This includes stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, promotion of eco-friendly public transport, better waste management practices, and awareness campaigns to encourage residents to reduce their carbon footprint. I urge the concerned authorities to take this matter seriously and prioritize sustainable development to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for the people of Guwahati.

Rituparna Devi 

Gauhati University.

Issue of child labour in Guwahati

Child labour in Guwahati is a pressing issue, with hundreds of children forced to work due to poverty, illiteracy, and social discrimination. Despite legal prohibitions, children are employed in tea shops, households, small factories, and construction sites. The root cause lies in poor family conditions, where children are pressured to work to meet basic needs, while a lack of awareness about education schemes worsens the situation. Employers exploit these children, offering cheap wages, which disrupt their health and mental development, trapping them in the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.

To combat this, strict enforcement of anti-child labour laws is essential, including regular workplace inspections and punishment for violators. Financial empowerment for families through government support, skill development programs, and easier access to education is crucial. Awareness campaigns must be launched to educate society. Addressing this issue requires both legal actions and collective community efforts, ensuring a brighter future for the children of Guwahati.

Jabed Akhtar 

(ja9052110@gmail.com)

Concern over cruelty to animals

Cruelty to animals is a concern in the modern world, which comes in various forms, such as neglect, abuse, and exploitation. Even though awareness about the rights of animals has increased, cruelty to animals continues to rise. There are various reasons behind this trend, including ignorance, economic difficulties, cultural practices, and inadequate legal protection. Most people do not receive proper education about animal care and thus unintentionally commit acts of neglect and abuse. Economic pressures can force people to prioritize other expenses over proper animal care, resulting in malnutrition, poor living conditions, and even abandonment. Some cultural norms and traditions also contribute to animal cruelty, as some practices involving harm to animals are accepted or even celebrated. Poor legal frameworks and weak enforcement also allow perpetrators to act with impunity, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.

The consequences of animal cruelty are extreme and wide-ranging. Of course, the immediate sufferers are the animals themselves; they endure huge amounts of pain, fright, and, in many cases, death. In addition to the immediate damage to the animals, cruelty creates an overall sense of a culture that endorses violence and less sensitivity toward suffering, thereby developing greater social issues, which are violence and crime in greater proportions. Further, some of the animal cruelty leads to poaching and illegal trade of wildlife, which directly causes disastrous environmental impacts by destroying ecosystems and causing the extinction of species. Animal cruelty can be solved with a comprehensive solution including education, legislation, and community engagement.

Education and awareness programs would change attitudes and behaviours towards animals. Schools, media, and community organisations can play vital roles in spreading information on humane treatment and proper care of animals. Strengthening legal protections and ensuring that such laws are enforced effectively also plays an important role. Deterrence of potential abusers will only be achieved when offenders receive severe penalties, and resources for law enforcement to adequately investigate and prosecute cases of cruelty should be sufficient. Donations, volunteering, and advocacy with animal welfare organisations are crucial resources in their critical work.

Another key aspect is that of responsible pet ownership. Present and prospective pet owners’ education in the responsibilities in animal care can help avert negligence and abandonment of pets. Addressing such underlying problems as poverty and mental illness associated with the cruelty of animals by appropriate social services and support services can help decrease abuse situations. Some will want their community members to report when people suspected of animal cruelty offences exist within their communities so that a culture of responsibility and compassion can be entrenched. This is an effective way to make long-term changes where such social systems are created to avoid giving some creatures less respect and love.

Aditi Devi

Gauhati University 

Melanistic tigers                                          

Sighting of two “melanistic” tiger cubs with their mother in the Similipal tiger reserve of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has set wildlife lovers’ pulses racing. Melanistic or pseudomelanistic tigers are rare. Excessive production of melanin pigment gives rise to this condition; the dark spots and enlarged black and yellow stripes provide these tigers a “melanistic touch.” Similipal Tiger Reserve is the only natural habitat of the melanistic tigers. First found in the 1990s, there are a total of 13 melanistic tigers in the reserve. These tigers are said to have come from a small founding population that may have led to inbreeding. Studies have reported that mutation, or change in the basic genetic makeup, of the Taqpep gene gave rise to the melanistic variant of the tigers.

However, experts are worried that the negative effects of inbreeding may adversely affect the long-term conservation of the melanistic tigers due to reduced genetic diversity and heightened susceptibility to diseases. Be that as it may, the dense forests and water bodies of the Similipal reserve, not to mention the diverse flora and fauna in addition to the rich prey base, have boosted the melanistic tiger population. At any rate, the Odisha government is sparing no effort to conserve the special big cats. A melanistic tiger safari is on the anvil in Baripada, near Similipal, where four melanistic tigers are proposed to be released besides two white tigers, showcasing their speciality and the need to preserve them.

Dr Ganapathi Bhat 

(gbhat13@gmail.com)

Challenges of urbanization and drainage in Guwahati

Guwahati has seen a rapid expansion of its footprint due to demographic growth and economic development often occurring without much of an urban planning framework. The city’s crucial natural water bodies, like Deepor Beel and the Bharalu River, have been encroached upon and degraded. Both of these functioned as components of the city’s drainage system in history. As a result, this has led the city to experience regular waterlogging and urban flooding in some specific areas like Zoo Road and Chandmari, and yet now at Anil Nagar following only mild rainfall infall.

Compounding the problem is an outdated drainage system unable to cope with the deluge that rains bring. Drainage blockages are also partly a result of the indiscriminate disposal of solid waste into drains and disjointed public awareness and enforcement, which makes effective implementation of waste management policies impossible. In addition to causing the heavy rainfall prevailing over Accra, aspects of climate change such as erratic rainfall and increasing river levels have also exacerbated the susceptibility of the city’s drainage systems.

 A well-rounded and futuristic perspective is required to solve these multi-faceted problems. This involves the recovery and preservation of wetlands and natural drainage tanks, remodelling the city´s drainage system infrastructure, as well as the periodic maintenance necessary to avoid blockages. There should be an equal focus on the enforcement of waste management regulations and community engagement programs as well. In addition, better resilience focuses on installing smart city solutions—like real-time detection of clogged drains through sophisticated technologies.

To lessen these difficulties and ensure Guwahati’s long-term growth, the relevant authorities must give sustainable urban development top priority. Guwahati’s transformation into a resilient and habitable city would depend heavily on proactive actions and cooperation from all parties involved.

Pratham Kalita 

(prathamkalita855@gmail.com)