GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has halted the Assam cabinet’s move to de-notify Deepor Beel, a wildlife sanctuary and Ramsar site situated on the outskirts of Guwahati.
A division bench of the High Court deemed the cabinet’s move unjust and untimely on Friday, directing the government to refrain from issuing any notifications regarding the denotification.
Moreover, the court instructed authorities to halt all development and construction activities in and around Deepor Beel until the demarcation notification of the Ramsar wetland site is officially issued.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on May 27.
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The controversy stemmed from the state cabinet’s directive on March 10 this year, instructing the forest department to investigate why the sanctuary was notified in 2009 without resolving the rights of traditional fishing communities.
Subsequently, the cabinet decided to revoke the notification, citing its issuance without the approval of the state cabinet.
However, in an affidavit to the Court, the state government clarified that any formal notification regarding the denotification of Deepor Beel requires approvals from both state and national wildlife boards, as well as the Supreme Court.
Initially notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 2009, the decision faced legal challenges from nearby villagers. In 2017, a single-judge bench of the High Court nullified the order, only for a division bench to overturn it in 2018.
Currently, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the division bench’s ruling is pending in the Supreme Court.
The controversy surrounding Deepor Beel revolves around environmental protection and tourism development.
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Earlier in November 2023, Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, at the closing ceremony of the Rising Sun Water Fest at the site, had said that the government is mulling over simplifying rules for events at the site.
He had informed that the government aims to ease regulations to boost tourism, sparking concerns among conservationists.
The Rising Sun Water Fest faced strong criticism from environmental groups.
Critics, including the Deepor Beel Protection Forum, had voiced concerns over the festival’s impact on the lake’s delicate ecosystem.
They argue that activities like loud music, boat traffic, and large gatherings threaten the diverse wildlife of the lake, including migratory birds and aquatic plants and animals.
