Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES OF SOLABEEL OF GUWAHATI CITY, ASSAM

Aruna Bhattacharjee, P. K. Das and K. P. Sarma

Abstract

To evaluate the nature of pollution and its effect, a systematic study has been taken on Solabeel (a large wetland) of Guwahati city on different locations of the beel; water and soil samples were collected taking into consideration of the different physical parameters like colour, turbidity, pH, BOD, COD, alkalinity etc. Huge population explosion, rapid urbanization, unauthorized occupation ofthe beel areas by misuse of political and money power, lack of social awarencess for environmental protection and proper planning by the authorities, the area of wetlands of Guwahati city, specifically solabeel wetland decreased which has damaged balanced ecosystem. The present study suggests suitable measures to protect natural environment (wetlands), keeping in mind the needs of human development activites and optimum use of natural resources. Study reveals that due to large-scale encroachment, Government settlement, garbage dumping, unabated land and water pollution, the beel has now reached in a deplorable and degraded state, facing more serious geoenvironmental problems.