Guwahati: The Contempt Petition filed by environmental activist Pramod Kalita and two others in PIL/18/2023 concerning the non-notification of the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary (4.1 Sq.Kms.) in Guwahati is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday (27 March, 2024).
A two-judge bench of the Gauhati High Court, comprising Justice L. Jamir and Justice Suman Shyam, issued an order on December 7, 2023, directing the Assam Government to notify the ESZ by January 18, 2024.
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Failure to comply would require the State Government to submit an explanation detailing the delay and the measures taken to notify the ESZ.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the Assam Government’s lack of action in this matter, the petitioners have now lodged a Contempt Petition at Gauhati High Court.
It has come to light that, in response to the Contempt Petition, the Assam Government has filed an affidavit expressing its intention to denotify the Deepor Beel as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
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In their affidavit, the Assam Government has labeled their 2002 notification of the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary as irregular, citing failure to follow proper procedures, such as settling the rights of fishermen, before designating the WLS in question.
Earlier this month, a similar plea by the State Government regarding the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
A top court bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed the Assam government to immediately file an affidavit on the demarcation of the territory of the wildlife sanctuary and declaring its eco-sensitive zone.
The top court asked the Assam government to settle the claims and rights of the people under Section 26 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and not to resort to de-notification in the name of “withdrawal”.
Located in Guwahati and spanning around 900 hectares, Deepor Beel is Assam’s only Ramsar site which is home to several species of birds in and around the sanctuary.