Deepor Beel: Watching A Wetland Fade

Guwahati: At dawn, when the mist still hangs low over Deepor Beel, the lake may appear serene but for the people residing near it, it can be a bittersweet reminder of a bygone era.

Watching the few fishermen push their boats into the water, nets folded neatly at their feet, is to understand that at a period of time in which mornings were full of guarantee, now comes with doubt and uncertainty. Guwahati’s largest wetland and Assam’s only Ramsar site ‘Deepor Beel', is over time fading away.

The neighbourhood’s loss of its wetland has not been a sudden disaster, but rather an elongated, silent erosion that has happened year by year, almost undiagnosed.

Years of recollections from older residents tell a story of a Deepor Beel that had crystal clear waters, thick reed beds, nets that were heavy with fish and thousands of migratory birds, giving off noise and animation to the atmosphere in the winter time. Not just in terms of biodiversity, the wetland was able to support whole towns, fishing was something you could count on, and the lake fed everyone. Well-known certainty isn't something this lake is giving any more.

Let's think about the hundreds of people who count on the lake for their living, to them the downturn is extremely personal, and for those who are depending on it, they see their once-reliable catch plummeting dramatically. The majority of the fishermen now have to come back empty-handed, with nets weighing far less than they used to be. As a result, they are now forced to make terrible choices, cutting down on meals, borrowing money, or basically giving up a way of life that has been passed down through generations.

The Slow Poisoning Of Water

The damage has not occurred overnight or in just the last few years, but it has been building for decades as Plastic waste, untreated sewage, and chemical runoff from Guwahati have steadily seeped into the wetland. Furthermore, Solid waste dumped near its edges has added to the strain, especially during the monsoon, when contaminants wash directly into the water.

Several reports state that the loss is visible both scientifically and on the ground. Fish diversity has dropped sharply. Species that once numbered more than sixty are now closer to forty. Several native varieties that were once common are now rarely seen. Fish deaths linked to plastic ingestion and the collapse of natural food sources have become increasingly frequent.

For the roughly 800 fishing families living around the wetland, these changes are not abstract statistics. They translate into empty nets and shrinking incomes.

“The Breeding Grounds Are Gone”

The warning signs have been there for years. Traditional spawning areas—shallow zones where fish once laid eggs— Fishermen say have been buried under silt, soil and construction debris. The Beel’s edges have hardened, its soft breathing spaces sealed off.

One fisherman describes how the lake has gradually turned into a dumping ground. Waste drifts in from nearby areas. Construction material settles at the bottom. “The places where fish used to breed no longer exist,” he says. “If there is no breeding, what will we catch tomorrow?”

Many agree that the decline accelerated over the last decade as urban pressure intensified. Roads, rail lines and construction projects fragmented habitats. Natural channels feeding the Beel were blocked or narrowed. What once flowed freely now struggles to reach the lake.

Birds, Water And Broken Links

The wetland remains a critical habitat for endangered birds such as adjutant storks and pelicans, only to name a few, though their sightings have declined significantly. Reports point to falling water levels, shrinking surface area and pollution as key reasons for the decline in migratory bird populations.

Once spread across more than 4,000 hectares, the wetland has shrunk to a fraction of its original size. Studies have found high levels of harmful bacteria in the water, including faecal contamination, alongside dangerously low oxygen levels, creating conditions that are lethal for fish and other aquatic life.

The ecosystem is still alive, people say, but it is exhausted.

Courts Notice, Ground Realities Don’t Change

The crisis has further reached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has taken suo motu cognisance of the pollution affecting the Ramsar site. The concerned departments have been asked to explain the damage and submit plans for restoration.

Yet, on the ground, residents say little has changed. Calls to relocate dumping sites, restore feeder channels and strictly enforce Ramsar boundaries have echoed for years. Action, however, remains fragmented and slow.

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