Malda dist administration adopts measures to save Chatra wetland
Malda: In a decisive move following the Green Tribunal’s directive, the district administration has ramped up efforts to protect the Chatra wetland in English Bazar. The administration has formed two special teams, each comprising 5 members, tasked with demarcating the boundaries of the wetland. These teams are required to submit a report by December 12, detailing the land’s status. Additionally, authorities have initiated strict monitoring of tractor movements used for land filling.
Police will be deployed to prevent further encroachment and complaints will be lodged at local police stations against those involved in illegal land-filling activities. District Magistrate Nitin Singhania confirmed that as per the Green Tribunal’s order, the process of demarcating the wetland’s boundaries has begun.
“Drone technology will be employed for geo-mapping to accurately define the wetland’s limits, with CCTV cameras being set up along key routes leading to the area. Regular police patrols will ensure vigilance, while nakas (checkpoints) will monitor vehicles involved in land-filling activities,” said Singhania.
This heightened action comes after years of illegal land reclamation for construction projects in the area, including the filling of smaller wetlands behind the regulated market English Bazar. Despite objections and protests from citizens and environmentalists, the issue remained largely ignored by the authorities.
It was only after a petition filed by prominent environmental activist Subhash Dutta that the Green Tribunal intervened, ordering the administration to halt all reclamation activities in the Chatra wetland. Its total area is about 14.58 sq km.
Though the administration complied with the Tribunal’s orders temporarily, the state government had appealed against the decision in the Calcutta High Court. Recently, however, the High Court dismissed the appeal, referring the case back to the Green Tribunal, which further accelerated the administration’s actions.
