GUWAHATI: A total of ₹12 crore remains unused as the Assam Forest Department is yet to provide a NOC to the Department of Tourism to develop the Deepor Beel area.
While replying to a question raised by the West Guwahati MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita about the schemes adopted by the Department of Tourism for attracting tourists in Deepor Beel and the funds allotted, Minister of Tourism, Jayanta Mallabaruah, said, "The state government approved a sum of ₹10 crore under the Uttaran Scheme back in 2019-20 and in the year 2022-23 an additional amount of ₹2 crore was specified in the budget. As the Forest Department didn't provide the NOC, the development projects were not initiated. Once the NOC gets approved the project will be implemented."
The MLA also sought information regarding the original size of the boundary followed by the present one, Mallabaruah further mentioned, "According to information received from the Kamrup Metropolitan District Commissioner through the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, the range of Deepor Beel is 3,090 bighas 4 katha 17 lechha according to hand records. Currently, the range of the said Bill is the same."
Replying to another issue regarding the illegal occupancy and land ownership in that area, Mallabaruah explained, "Though the evacuation of illegal occupants and land owners within the boundaries of the water body is not under the Department of Tourism. But, according to information received from Kamrup Metropolitan District Commissioner through the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, there are illegal occupants by any individual, organisation whatsoever within the boundary of the water body."