GUWAHATI: The Silsako Beel, a vital natural wetland in Guwahati, has faced significant degradation, diminishing from its original 450 acres to approximately 80 acres by 2021 due to rampant encroachments. This information was revealed to GPlus by an official from the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), who is involved in the ongoing restoration efforts.
Designated as a protected wetland under the Guwahati Waterbodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act of 2008, Silsako has suffered considerable loss in area, compromising its water-retention capacity and increasing the city’s susceptibility to urban flooding. A GMDA official stated, “In recent years, the Government of Assam has initiated a major restoration drive and has successfully reclaimed about 270 acres from encroachers.”
The eviction and reclamation initiative, which includes the demolition of various institutional and private structures, aims to restore the ecological integrity of the wetland. Among the structures dismantled recently was the OKD Institute of Social Change and Development (OKDISCD), which had occupied a portion of the Beel since 2007.
Looking ahead, the GMDA official mentioned that the next phase will involve excavation work. “The objective is to restore Silsako’s water-holding capacity to 3.5 million cubic meters,” he added. This restoration is crucial not only for the wetland’s health but also for mitigating flooding risks in the greater Guwahati area.
Original Source: https://www.guwahatiplus.com/guwahati/270-acres-reclaimed-from-silsako-encroachments-in-guwahati-excavation-to-restore-wetlands-holding-capacity-begins
Category: Guwahati
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Publish Date: 2025-05-20 20:27:00
