Outrage Erupts in Biswanath: Controversial Tea Factory Threatens Beloved Elephant Corridor
Biswanath, Feb. 4: The region of Biswanath was a hotbed of unrest on Tuesday as local residents, alongside youth organizations, rallied against the proposed construction of a tea factory within the Baghmari-Behali animal corridor. Demonstrators condemned the government for green-lighting the project, highlighting concerns about its potential to disturb elephant movement, exacerbate human-wildlife conflict, and damage the area’s delicate ecosystem.
With placards in hand and voices raised, the protesters demanded that the factory not be built in this vital wildlife passage, particularly used by elephants. A local resident stressed to The Assam Tribune, “The Forest Department had previously designated this area as an animal corridor. Constructing a tea factory here will displace elephants, forcing them into human settlements.”
Prior to the protest, locals had voiced their concerns to the district administration, requesting an alternative route for elephant movement. However, they remain in the dark about any agreements that allowed the construction to proceed.
Protesters also questioned the reclassification of the corridor from protected land to an industrial site, calling it a contradiction to governmental efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Beyond fears of habitat destruction, additional anxieties were raised regarding the factory’s waste disposal and potential pollution, with one resident asking, “Where will the factory’s waste go? This will not only harm wildlife but also severely impact local communities.”
The protesters are now calling for a high-level investigation into the situation and punitive measures against those who approved the permissions. “We are shocked by the government’s decision. We demand an immediate investigation and the reopening of the corridor for elephants,” a protester declared to The Assam Tribune.
The call to action remains clear: halt the construction to preserve the wildlife corridor and protect both the environment and the local community’s livelihood.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/biswanath-sees-protest-over-alleged-construction-of-tea-factory-in-elephant-corridor-1566990
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Publish Date: 2025-02-04 17:00:00
