DCs asked to give details of wetland encroachment

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked all deputy commissioners of the state to provide details of the encroachment of water bodies, wetlands, and channels in the state within seven days.

According to official sources, the letter sent to the deputy commissioners reads, “With a view to protect and preserve wetlands and water bodies, and to ensure planned developmental interventions by the government, it is needed to identify encroachment into water bodies during the past 15 years.”

The instruction from the Chief Minister drops a broad hint that the eviction drive against encroachment in water bodies in the state will be massive.

The Chief Minister said, “Rampant encroachment is taking place on water bodies and adjoining government lands. Such encroachments are not only blocking and stifling the free and smooth flow of a heavy volume of water during the flood season but are also adversely affecting the rainwater retention capacity of the water bodies. These water bodies need to be preserved in their natural forms for maintaining biodiversity and for protection against artificial floods and as well as drought.”

According to government data, the state has around 712 swampy and marshy areas covering around 43,433 hectares. The state also has ten water reservoirs covering around 2,662 hectares. The state also has 861 oxbow lakes and cut-off meanders covering around 15,460 hectares of land. These aside, there are 1,125 waterlogged areas covering 23,431 hectares in the state.

According to the Assam Remote Sensing Application Centre’s data, the state has 3,513 wetlands, the areas of most of which have been shrinking due to various reasons. According to sources, rampant encroachment is one of the reasons behind the disappearing water bodies, besides climate change.

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