Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to file an additional affidavit regarding the boundary demarcation of the state’s lone Ramsar site, Deepor Beel.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by environmental activist Pramod Kalita, Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi asked the government to clarify on the progress of Deepor Beel’s boundary demarcation by the Revenue Department.
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Advocate D. Nath, representing the Assam government, informed the court that Deepor Beel falls under two revenue circles – Guwahati and Azara. “While boundary demarcation for the Guwahati circle is complete, Azara’s demarcation is pending,” he said.
The petitioner’s lawyer expressed concerns about ongoing earth-filling activities within Deepor Beel, potentially causing severe damage to the wetland ecosystem. Photographs were presented as evidence.
The government’s advocate refuted the claim, stating the activity is on private land outside Deepor Beel.
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P. Nayak, representing GMDA, informed the court that based on his current knowledge, no earth-filling is happening within Deepor Beel. The court, however, directed Mr. Nayak to file an affidavit from the concerned official confirming this by the next hearing.
To address these concerns, the court directed the government to file an additional affidavit clarifying whether any earth-filling is underway within Deepor Beel.
“We direct, Mr. Nayak to file an affidavit from the concerned official that no earth-filling is going on in the Deepor Beel Area, by the next date of hearing,” the order said.
The next hearing is scheduled for the last week of July.
Earlier in April, the Gauhati High Court had stalled a decision taken by the Assam cabinet to denotify Deepor Beel.
The court also directed the government not to allow development and construction activities in and around the Deepor Beel till the demarcation notification of the Ramsar wetland ((a global wetland convention) site is issued.