MIGRATORY BIRDS

Silence Zone for the winged guests of winter

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 12: A proposal to declare Sagardighi and its surrounding area in Cooch Behar town as a silence zone is under consideration of Cooch Behar district administration.

 

Cooch Behar ADM (Development), Mr Pannalal Mahapatra said they are considering the proposal to declare the Sagardighi area as a silence zone to retain the presence of the seasonal guests. Already he asked the police to make people abstain from cleaning clothes in the water of Sagardighi. He admitted that it would be wise for all not holding any public meeting in the vicinity of the large water-body. They may request the political parties to organise meetings and rallies at other places. "I will write to the political parties to leave the Sagardighi area as a silence zone", he said.

 

The beautiful Sagardighi is a large pond that was dug in the regime of Maharajas as a source of drinking water. Major government offices and courts are situated on its banks. Migratory birds too prefer the large waterbed of Sagardighi in winter. But their number started decreasing for the past few years. As it is located centrally in the town the noise of motor vehicles and air horns and loudspeakers is making the place aloof for the winged guests, environmentalists believe.

 

Secretary of Nature and Adventure Study Group (NASG), Mr Arup Guha said the migratory birds started coming to Sagardighi since 1980. Observing the decrease in number of the birds a few years ago the NASG had submitted a proposal to the administrative authorities to consider declaring the vicinity of Sagardighi a silence zone. Horn of motor vehicles and use of loudspeakers on the banks of the pond and practice of swimming and fishing in its water made the situation unbearable for the birds and they started disliking the place, Mr Guha said. The NASG secretary opined that government vigilance and strict measures needed to keep these winged guests here.

 

This year a very small flock of the migratory birds came to Sagardighi till now. Some of the migratory birds that came to Sagardighi this year are identified as Lesser Whistling Till and Mallard. They used to come from far away Siberia. It is feared that in near future no bird would come if necessary measures were not taken soon. []

 

PHOTO : Migratory birds in the water of Sagardighi in Cooch Behar.