Unkindest cut

Environmentalists and citizens fearthat the largescale cutting of hillsin the surrounding areas ofGuwahati may lead to the extinction of wildlife population in urbanareas. Guwahati has the largest 'urban wildlife' with nearly 590 different surviving species, including 18 mammals. But today, manyspecies have migrated to otherareas. Cutting of hills has alsoled to soil erosion and caused damage to the drainage system of thecity. Despite a ban imposed bydeputy commissioner of theKamrup district, illegal hill cuttingstill continues unabated.

The same is the state with theforests surrounding Guwahati.Although there are nine reserveforests around the city, today mostof them have been depleted. Forexample, on the south-east part ofthe city is the Hengrabari reserveforest. The entire forest cover of600 ha has been reduced to lessthan 100 ha. Forest departmentofficials admit that there areencroachments inside the reserveforest area despite the government's efforts at eviction. "In 1995, wehad evicted about 150 families, but they have come back and reoccupied their place," said a rueful forest department worker.