Chapter 6. Design research: Sustainable Factors and Humane Design
6.3 FGD with Secondary Stake holders: Results and Analysis
A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with secondary stake holders was held on Jan 12, 2016 (3pm to 6pm) at the seminar room of Center for the Environment, IIT Guwahati, under the able guidance of Professor Chandan Mahanta (IIT Guwahati). The topic of discussion was
“Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Urban Areas with the help of Community Participation (Bio rights possibilities) - Proposed Eco Park near Deepor Beel, Guwahati.” The goal of this FGD was to analyze all stakeholders’ attitudes and opinions about wetland conservation, with emphasis on obstructions to conservation behaviors as the cause of delayed progress. Few site-specific cases for encouraging the population living in the fringe villages without compromising on their socio-cultural identities were discussed to highlight the integration of community participatory system and location adjustments for a sustainable development of the proposed eco-park through the analysis of planning and conservation approaches. In all, ten participants from different stakeholders involved, took part in the FGD (Annexure 7). All the participants were asked about their working / research experiences in this field, their valuable suggestions / opinions to upscale the initiative taken for the conservation and the proposed Eco Park. The outcome was aimed to help articulate socio-cultural values, local knowledge and sense of ownership in planning methods and provide opportunities for tangible and coherent solutions as against conventional urban planning.
The esteemed members of the FGD (Figure 6.10) unanimously agreed that there should be a separate Water Body Development Authority under GMDA (or Government of Assam) for the implementation of this master plan. They suggested that awareness building with transparency by the government agencies will act as a strong catalyst. Though the state government was planning to form a Deepor Beel Management and Development Authority in 2010 with the provision of the Wetland Conservation and Management Rules for maintenance of healthy hydrological connectivity of wetlands, it did not materialize.
The current provisions for water body and community development in the DPR and the master plan (eco-park) should be made transparent to the communities. Their representatives should be engaged in analyzing and verifying the relevance and appropriateness of proposed interventions. This will help in gaining their confidence and strengthening their cooperation for the proposed development. There should be a board of advisors (consultants) from all
stakeholders, including prominent researchers / research organizations, banks, NGOs, specialists like socio-cultural analysts, geologists, environmentalists and community representatives with GMDA’s Water Bodies’ Development Authority for articulate and fast implementation of the master plan as preparation or amendment of master plan is a long term process. The delay of implementation will further interrupt the conservation of the wetland, which is already facing the anthropogenic stress and on the verge of being in the risk of removal from the Ramsar list.
Figure 6.10: FGD members at IIT Guwahati 6.3.1 FGD Recommendations and Suggested Solutions for the Future Recommendations for Increased Community (Stakeholders) Participation:
Unity among various tribes and fishing communities will generate opportunities to resolve conflicts and obstacle for conservation and management of the wetland. This will eventually help to address negative social and environmental impact like rapid expansion of stone quarries and destruction of forests.
Bio rights schemes and micro-financed projects with banks (e.g. NABARD), SAFE water and other public private support will improve ownership spirits and willingness to share costs, commitments and human resources. Other than fishing, some of the schemes suggested include weaving, animal (goat, hen, pigs) rearing, growing seasonal crops with proper planning, market study and ensuring the equal distribution of project benefits.
Several tons of plant waste is generated every year after removing the water hyacinth from the wetland for gaining additional depth to increase water retention capacity. Municipal development authorities have not identified any dumping place for this till date. Possibilities of bi-products are suggested through organizations like North-Eastern Development Finance Corporation ltd. (NEDFiHaat) with community participation and training.
Utilization of local knowledge based on field experience will help in social learning and capacity building for economic development activities. All economic projects should be planned as per the stakeholder priorities and needs. A relevant suggestion was that fishing communities should be given priority in fish-culture and the tribal communities on the southern border should be engaged in other micro finance options.
In the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Deepor Beel, a sizeable amount of finance has been approved for improvement of the fringe villages. All villagers will be given similar houses near the Beel and for improved tourism prospect a fisherman village model will be adopted.
A separate eco-village will be constructed and three locations are identified for tourism hub.
The Forest department will be provided with facilities for better operation and management like night-viewing boats and a forest range office will be constructed. The Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) land in the periphery of the wetland located within the zone of influence, has not been utilized for a long time, hence this land will be maintained and preserved.
Dredging will be done to widen the Beel and dredgers have already been bought. The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has prepared a master plan 2030 and both the DPR and the master plan have been approved and ready for implementation.
The development of Deepor Beel (5 water bodies and 3 rivers in Guwahati city) is part of this master plan.
Transparent policies by the government will strengthen stakeholder’s participation for a sustainable Operation and Management.
Recommendations for conservation and management:
Further selling and buying policy for land around the wetland and its flood plains should be amended by the government with the help of community intervention. A need-based survey is suggested here. All encroachment should be removed and activities like agriculture, fishing should be encouraged.
Provision of the ‘Elephant Corridor’ comes under the Central Government and the railways department. As part of an eco-proposal and Wild Life Conservation Plan, an
‘Elephant Corridor’ should be identified and demarcated by the Forest Department with immediate effect to stop the increasing man animal conflict and destruction of crops and life. The state government can extend help with land revenue. A railway tunnel is a possible solution to create wildlife corridor on a natural slope from hill to the wetland.
There should be no digging for siltation without proper technical intervention (3 people currently lost their lives). Expert geologist and ecologist should be engaged to keep a check on humus content and type of soil suitable for digging / dredging.
Five Ramsar sites were proposed in February 2001 (amended in 2002) and only Deepor Beel was declared as a Ramsar site in the same year. Though the Beel area mentioned in the Ramsar list is 402 km (Ramsar, 2017), the actual wetland area at that time was 272kms. Experts agree that for a realistic reassessment of the Beel area, the changes in land-use and land cover pattern should be done with the help of GIS and all Beel areas should be corrected in the original lists otherwise it will be calculated as a reducing area of the wetland.
Recommendations for Tourism appreciation (responsible tourism and sustainability) were as follows:
Provision of house-boat facilities will be lucrative in the stretch from Deepor Beel to Khandajaan sluice gates, which has a splendid view.
Ornamental fish aquariums to display the wide variety of fishes available in the wetland and other wetlands in the city.
A flower house/museum to display rare flowers of the North-Eastern regions.
Trekking opportunities by linking wetland with the Rani Garbhanga forest.
Deepor Beel festival to promote cultural identity