Assam Villagers Turn Dhemaji Grazing Land Into Protected Forest

Guwahati: Residents of the Bordoloni Gaon Panchayat in Assam are turning 1,044 bighas of government grazing land into a protected village forest. The decision arrived at a Friday meeting held during the Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan and Wildlife Week. This plan keeps the land at Maguwahola safe from development.

Dhemaji MLA and minister Ranoj Pegu, MP Pradan Barua, and Chaiduar MLA Jiwan Gogoi attended the summit. Pegu pushed for the move to help the Village Development Plan. He noted that the name Maguwahola signals the existence of a vital wetland. The site already shelters deer, various birds, and fish.

Debojit Phukan of the Megamix Nature Club detailed the site's rich biology. He noted that over 150 bird species live there, including 30 migratory types. The water also holds 30 to 40 species of fish. Phukan stated, "pockets of natural ecosystems continued to survive despite population growth and human intervention."

The project moves forward with help from the Dhemaji district administration and the Forest Department. It aims to save the natural habitat from human sprawl. Officials confirmed that the conversion covers nearly 1,000 bighas of the Panchayat land.