GUWAHATI: A comprehensive “District Level Stakeholder Consultation on Integrated Management” of the Doloni Beel was convened at the conference hall of the District Commissioner’s Office in Bongaigaon district, recently.
Facilitated jointly by the Bongaigaon district administration and Aaranyak, the meeting aimed to sensitise stakeholders about the latter’s assessment findings on the Doloni Beel and to share recommendations for the Integrated Wetland Management Plan (IWMP).
The esteemed gathering was chaired by Bongaigaon District Commissioner Nabadeep Pathak, with Additional District Commissioner Apurba Nath as Co-chair.
The consultation witnessed the participation of 54 stakeholders, including government officials from various departments, community representatives from 10 villages surrounding Doloni Beel, and local educators from Bongaigaon colleges.
Key government departments present included Forest, Water Resources, Agriculture, Veterinary, Social Welfare, Handloom and Textile, Tourism, NABARD, AFDC, ASRLM, Revenue, Pollution Control Board, DIPRO, and Soil Conservation.
Addressing the gathering, District Commissioner Pathak highlighted the significance of the IWMP for the welfare of the community and lauded the collaborative efforts of GIZ, Assam Forest Department, and Aaranyak in this endeavour.
Dr Partha Jyoti Das, leading the Doloni Beel Project, presented the study’s major findings and recommendations, underlining the importance of integrated wetland management for protection, conservation, and sustainable development.
Dr Ashoke Kumar Das, Coordinator of Aaranyak’s Western Assam Zone, provided insights into the biodiversity richness of Doloni Beel.
The consultation featured an interactive session where stakeholders from NABARD, AFDC, ASRLM, Veterinary Department, and local communities offered feedback and suggestions.
Discussions ranged from tree plantation initiatives to women’s economic development, alternative livelihoods, tourism promotion, and animal welfare measures.
The session concluded with gratitude expressed by Additional District Commissioner Apurba Kr Nath, highlighting the collaborative spirit and shared commitment towards the preservation and sustainable management of Doloni Beel.
The Doloni Beel, a socio-ecologically significant wetland of western Assam, has been under holistic assessment by Aaranyak, a leading research-driven biodiversity conservation organisation, as part of the NERAQ programme (Protection and Sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources in the North-Eastern Himalayan Region of India), a collaboration between GIZ and the Assam Forest Department.
