Guwahati’s Deepor Beel, Assam’s only Ramsar Site, is facing significant environmental challenges due to a nearby waste dumping ground at Belortol on NH-27 in East Boragaon. The Deepor Beel Suraksha Mancha has urgently requested the relocation of this facility to protect the wetland’s ecosystem. Covering 900 hectares, Deepor Beel is not only a natural wetland but also a wildlife sanctuary.
At a recent press conference, Pramod Kalita, the secretary of the organization, emphasized the severe impact of leachate and odors from the dump site on both the wetland’s biodiversity and the health of nearby communities. He revealed that the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) conducted an analytical study from January to December 2023, which showed that the water of Deepor Beel has become contaminated.
PCBA’s monitoring indicated that the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels in the surface water surpassed regulatory limits, signaling pollution. Additionally, pH levels occasionally exceeded acceptable standards, creating alkaline conditions.
Despite the site’s designed capacity of processing 150 tonnes of waste daily, around 700 tonnes are being dumped each day, intensifying the negative environmental impact. This excessive waste contaminates the soil and water, affecting aquatic life in the wetland. During the rainy season, the wetland overflows and mixes with the garbage and contaminated run-off from the dump site.
The Deepor Beel Suraksha Mancha’s call for urgent action underlines the critical need for intervention to preserve this vital ecosystem and safeguard the health and livelihoods of local residents.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/deepor-beel-biodiversity-faces-threat-from-belortol-dumping-site/articleshow/116409689.cms
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Publish Date: 2024-12-17 23:14:00
