GUWAHATI: Assam’s Kohora River, the lifeline of the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape, took the centre stage at this year’s World Rivers Day celebrations in the state.
Commemorating the occassion, celebrated every fourth Sunday of September, the day saw a special emphasis on the relationship between local communities and the Kohora River.
At an event held in Hatipathor, Kohora, Karbi Anglong, 35 participants from various communities gathered to share their cherished memories associated with the river and deliberate on its future sustainable management.
Recognising the pressing need for Kohora River’s sustainable management, an eleven-member committee, headed by Dairy Prashad Upadhaya, was established. The committee pledged to raise awareness and maintain the river’s pristine water quality and flow.
Jointly organised by Kaziranga Chitrakala Vidyalaya, Hatipathor Madir Parichalona Samiti, and the Department of Soil Conservation, Kohora, the day kicked off with a communal cleanliness initiative at the Hatipathor stretch of the river.
Post the cleanup, all participants convened at the Soil Conservation Inspection Bungalow for a session of reminiscence and dialogue. Local conservationist, Swapan Nath, outlined the event’s core objectives and subsequent activities.
Aaranyak, a premier biodiversity conservation organisation, presented insights from a detailed study conducted from 2018 to 2023, emphasising the significance of the Kohora River and its catchment area. The participants delved into discussions recalling historical water volumes, alterations in water quality, diverse fish species, and other invaluable assets the river offers.
Dhrubo Jyoti Saha put forth a proposition to apprise the concerned SDO (Civil) about the Kohora River’s current state and to devise a long-term sustainable management strategy. Ranjan Rajkhowa, the Head Teacher of Sankardev Sishu Niketan, Kohora, underscored the societal interdependency on the river, accentuating its socio-economic and cultural facets. He stressed on the need for young students to recognise the rivers’ paramountcy.
Additionally, Nath highlighted the contribution of hill streams originating from the Karbi Anglong hills to the Kohora River and its surrounding communities.
In alignment with the theme, an art competition centred on the river was organised for Kaziranga Chitrakala Vidyalaya students, culminating in an award ceremony for the victorious young artists.
