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Deepor Beel is the state's only Ramsar Site, declared in August 2002, and it comprises a core area of 4.14 square kilometres...
Digital Desk: In accord with the Supreme Court's judgement, the Gauhati High Court dismissed a Suo Moto petition as well as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) relating to the preservation and proper administration of Deepor Beel in Guwahati.
Various orders have been issued in both petitions, and under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to take necessary steps for treatment and disposal of waste already dumped at the Chandrapur site, to assess the environmental damage caused by waste dumping at Chandrapur, and to take necessary steps in that regard.
The appellant authorities, including the Chief Secretary of the State of Assam, have stated that the Government of Assam, with the assistance of IIT Kharagpur, decided to build a plant for scientific solid waste disposal at the Boragaon dumping site, and that the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) was directed to carry out the project.
According to the respondents, Deepor Beel is the state's lone Ramsar Site, which was proclaimed in August 2002 and has a core area of 4.14 square kilometres. The Environment and Forest Department notified the specified area as a Wildlife Sanctuary on February 21, 2009, and the remaining territory is under the Revenue and DM Department. The balance area is also said to have been brought under the Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act 2008 and proclaimed a water body under Section 4 of the 2008 Act.
The competent Authority of Assam has detailed the facts regarding the initiatives and efforts made to protect the Deepor Beel, wherein many bird and fish species have been recorded, eight of which are endangered, according to the State of Assam.
Respondent No.1 (State of Assam) has also filed an affidavit claiming that a Solid Waste Management facility covering an area of 120 Bighas is located at West Boragaon within the Guwahati Municipal Corporation area, 15 km from Guwahati city, 1 km from National Highway No.37, and 0.5 km from Deepor Beel, which is bisected by a Railway track on the western side. Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has also taken measures to maintain the region clean.
The Court has issued several directions to keep the Deepor Beel surviving. Similar affidavits have been produced by the other respondents in response to the High Court's ruling, and actions have been taken to ensure Deepor Beel's survival.
Finally, GMC has averred in an affidavit dated 09.12.2022, as follows: -That the Letter of Acceptance for Construction of Compost and RDF Plant of 150 TPD at Belortol, NH No.37 for a contract value of Rs.30,91,80,000.00/- (Thirty Crores Ninety One Lakhs Eighty Thousand only) was issued by the then Commissioner, Guwahati Municipal Corporation on 09.05.22 vide letter bearing memo No.GER/CE/1972/2021/32-A
That building of the Compost and RDF Plant, as per the Letter of Acceptance dated 09.05.22, is proceeding successfully. According to NIT, the building period of the 150 TPD Compost and RDF Plant is 12 months. The construction of a 150 TPD compost and RDF plant at Belortol, NH No.37 is expected to be completed in June 2023.
In light of these observations, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya and Justice Soumitra Saikia has issued the following directives:
1| The respondent authorities must protect the Deepor Beel region and follow the statements stated in the affidavits for wetland protection.
2| The defendant State is now directed to ensure that the solid waste management plant under construction is fully operational by July 1st, 2023.
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