Erosion posing threat to Kaziranga

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The Assam Tribune (www.assamtribune.com)

Guwahati, Monday, March 13, 2006

 

Erosion posing threat to Kaziranga

By Prabal Kr Das

GUWAHATI, March 12 – Assam's best-known natural heritage is under

threat, and this time humans are not to blame. In silence, the river

Brahmaputra is eating away parts of the Kaziranga National Park.

Recent satellite imagery has revealed to what extent land is being

lost to erosion at several points where the Park's terrain comes into

contact with the mighty river. Close to 20 sq km of prime wetland and

grassland faces the risk of being submerged within the next five

years, a scientific projection suggests.

 

According to a study undertaken by the conservation group Aaranyak, a

total of 5.60 sq km was swallowed by the Brahmaputra during 1999-

2004. Spread over two points, the erosion has continued unabated even

now.

 

Giving details about the threats from erosion, Aaranyak's Pranjit

Sarma told The Assam Tribune the major area where erosion is taking

place lies between 93 18 30.41 East, 26 40 58.31 North and 93 22

39.11 East, 26 41 52.52 North.

 

He is worried that erosion in this particular area could speed up

once the Brahmaputra's water comes in contact with another channel

that is not very far away. At present the distance between the

channels is decreasing.

 

At another point, further upstream, the river has clawed away another

2.51 sq km during 1999-2004. This area, according to Sarma, is near

the northernmost part of the Park, and here also the erosion process

has continued. Not very far downstream, the river was depositing some

of its load.

 

The dynamics of the erosional process is not easy to comprehend, but

it is certain that reduction of landmass would seriously jeopardise

the status of the National Park. Kaziranga already contains a dense

population of wildlife, some of which are mega herbivores needing

considerable living space.

 

According to NK Vasu, Director Kaziranga National Park, the

developing scenario needs serious scrutiny. He stated there is not

much that can be done to stop the loss of land to the Brahmaputra. In

such a situation, the emphasis should be on new additions to the Park

and ensuring that the areas are made available for wildlife.