BANESWAR SHIV MANDIR

Water fountain installed to save Mohans of Baneswar

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 20: In a bid to save the tortoises of the historic Shiv Dighi of Baneswar in Cooch Behar the Debottar Trust Board (DTB) has installed a water fountain in the pond that started functioning from Sunday evening. The DTB is the guardian body of the temples and religious places of the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar. The tortoises of Shiv Dighi are known as 'Mohan' to the devotees and locals.

 

The plan behind installing the Rs 1.5-lakh coloured water fountain is to oxygenate the water of the pond to make it healthy for the Mohans. It may also beautify the area that attracts devotees and visitors round the year.

 

Following deaths of a number of tortoises of the Shiv Dighi locals got agitated and demonstrations including bandhs and roadblocks were also held in the past. The issue also rolled to the courtroom. Several investigations and tests were conducted but the actual cause behind the deaths is still shrouds under mystery. On 30 October 2006 the principal chief conservator of forests, Mr Sampat Singh Bist, sent a twelve-point recommendation to the Debottar Trust Board as measures to stop the death toll but most of the recommendations were not implemented so far.

 

Locals alleged that around 60 tortoises of the Shiv Dighi died since 2005. It may be mentioned here that examining the water of the pond and its surroundings the experts had identified pollution of the water of the pond, over population of the turtles and concrete banks of the waterbody as some of the causes behind the problem. Pisciculture at the pond was also held responsible. They however opined that 10 to 20 percent death might be taken as natural especially during mating season.

 

Cooch Behar Sadar SDO and the executive member of the DTB, Mr Jayanta Kumar Maity said they removed about 11-quintals of fish from the pond. Removal of the concrete banks was done following recommendations. Rs 3.5-lakh were spent for the job. Seven earthen ramps were also made so that the turtles feel free during laying of eggs.

 

Mr Maity claimed that they took all possible measures following recommendations from the experts and leaders of all political parties. After every incident of death post-mortem of the tortoises were done. To make the water clean lime and potassium permanganate were sprayed to the water. Enough feed are also being arranged daily so that no Mohan suffers from malnutrition, he said.

 

Mr Maity said that they took every possible measure to save the Mohans and now the people and the devotees turn to maintain the cleanliness of the water of Shiv Dighi. [] 

 

PHOTO : The historic Shiv Mandir of Baneswar in Cooch Behar.