Unchecked Urbanization Pushing Deepor Beel Towards Environmental Crisis, Warn Experts

Over the past two decades, Guwahati has witnessed rapid urban expansion. What was once a small, picturesque town has transformed into a sprawling, congested city. While this growth has fueled infrastructural advancements and economic progress, it has come at a significant environmental cost. Wetlands and green spaces, once abundant in the city, are being overtaken by buildings, roads, and waste dumps.

Deepor Beel, one of the largest and most important wetlands in Guwahati, has become one of the major victims of this unchecked urbanization. Unauthorized settlements, illegal waste dumping, and uncontrolled solid waste disposal have drastically reduced both the size and quality of the wetland. Once spanning over 40 square kilometers, Deepor Beel now occupies less than half of its original area.

"Unchecked urbanization has pushed Deepor Beel into an environmental crisis," warns Dr. Anamika Goswami, an environmental scientist from Guwahati. "If we do not act now, we will lose not just a wetland, but an entire ecosystem that supports hundreds of species and provides crucial services to the city."

The degradation of Deepor Beel has led to a significant loss of biodiversity. The wetland once served as a sanctuary for more than 200 species of birds, including migratory and non-migratory species like the Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant Stork, and Greater Adjutant. It was also home to a diverse aquatic life and served as a nesting site for several fish and amphibians. However, as Raju Das, a fisherman living near the wetland, explains, "The water is no longer clean. The fish are disappearing, and our income has been steadily declining. The construction and garbage have shrunk the beel, and the birds no longer visit like they used to."

Wetlands like Deepor Beel are not only essential for their beauty and biodiversity but also play vital roles in urban ecosystems. They act as natural flood buffers, absorbing excess monsoon water, recharging groundwater, filtering contaminants, and stabilizing microclimates. As Deepor Beel continues to shrink, these critical functions are disappearing. Guwahati, already prone to flash floods, is becoming increasingly vulnerable. Areas that once remained dry during heavy rainfall are now waterlogged for days. With the wetland’s decline, the city has lost a crucial natural defense against environmental disasters. "The modern flooding we are witnessing is the direct result of our actions towards wetlands," explains Dr. Partha Bordoloi, a hydrologist at Gauhati University. "If natural drainage systems are destroyed, there’s nowhere for the water to go. Deepor Beel used to act as a sponge, soaking up excess water. Now that it’s shrinking, we are facing the consequences."

One of the most significant contributors to the degradation of Deepor Beel is the nearby Boragaon landfill. Despite repeated court orders and public protests, the dumping of municipal waste continues unchecked, both within the wetland and in its proximity. The toxic leachate from the waste seeps into the wetland, transforming what was once a pristine habitat into a toxic cesspool. The presence of a waste dump near a Ramsar site is not only an environmental violation but a crime against nature. The leachate from the dump has altered the wetland’s pH levels, destroyed aquatic ecosystems, and poses serious health risks to the local population.

If urgent steps are not taken, Deepor Beel, and the countless services it provides, could soon be lost forever. The unchecked urbanization of Guwahati must be halted, and sustainable solutions must be implemented to restore and protect this invaluable wetland.