To bolster the efforts for preserving the rich wetland resources of the State, the government is considering to constitute a State Wetland Authority. This was announced by Minister of Environment and forests, Rockybul Hussain on Tuesday.
Assam's environment ministry has identified four wetlands: Jon-Beel, Kaziranga, Dhar Beel and Bordoibam Bilmukh.
It is pushing for their status as Ramsar sites.
The State Government has submitted a proposal to the Centre for the preservation of all the wetlands in Assam, said the Minister in charge of Environment and Forest, Rockybul Hussain. In reply to a Zero Hour question by Ananta Deka (CPM) in the State Assembly today, the Minister said that the State has 3513 wetlands covering an area of 101239 hectares.
The coke industries of Hatkhoapara under Azara revenue circle in South Kamrup which are still under operation regardless of the huge public opposition are posing threat to the environment as both the industries Ganesh Met Coke and Balaji Coke are alleged to have flouted certain norms prescribed by the Pollution Control Board, Assam.
Waterlogging after a brief spell of rain is still a common feature in Guwahati city, but unfortunately, more than five years have passed since former Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Dr NK Choudhury offered a series of suggestions to the Government to deal with the problem and most of those are yet to be implemented.
