Travel, Transformed: Guwahati’s Wetlands Lead India’s Eco-Tourism Renaissance

Guwahati is fast emerging as a flagbearer of India's eco-tourism, with the government in Assam launching a series of ambitious plans to make the city and its vicinity an ecotourism hub. The new plans are to make the recently reclaimed Hahila Beel wetland into a key eco-tourism hub, besides reclaiming other priority wetlands such as Kumri Beel and Urpad Beel.

 

Key Highlights:

 

Hahila Beel Transformation: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has declared a master plan to transform Hahila Beel into an eco-tourism site while retaining its high biodiversity and declaring it a proposed reserve forest. The wetland, which is vital for flood control and cycling of nutrients, will bring livelihood to the people through sustainable fishery and eco-tourism.

 

Community Empowerment: The government assures proper rehabilitation for the families who were displaced in the reclamation of the wetlands, with the intention of letting them return or be accommodated by landless individuals. The project aims to reconcile social justice and conservation.

 

Biodiversity Hotspots: Guwahati's nature travel loop includes signature sites like Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Deepor Beel (a Ramsar wetland), Chandubi Lake, and Rani Reserved Forest—each one of which is famous for its unique flora, fauna, and activities in nature.

 

Women and Local Participation: Emerging research indicates greater women's and local people's participation in eco-tourism, resulting in fair returns and local ownership of natural resources.

 

Sustainable Tourism Policy: The Assam policy accorded with national policy guidelines with an emphasis on low-impact infrastructure, conservation, and the development of local arts and crafts. The government is requested to set up special eco-tourism departments and enhance coordination with NGOs and regional bodies for overall development. With these moves, Guwahati is leading the way in sustainable, community-led, and green tourism, signaling the advent of a transformative era of tourism in Northeast India.

 

Source: Times of India, India.com