Guwahati: On January 8 ‘Save Bharalu’ to hold half-marathon

Guwahati: The non-governmental organization ‘Bharalu (Save Bharalu) Abhijan’ led by surgeon Dr Robin Mazumdar is starting a silent revolution to save the dying Bharalu river in Guwahati.

To intensify its awareness campaign to save the river, the NGO is organizing a half marathon on January 8. The half marathon will be flagged off from the playground of Sonaram HS School, Bharalumukh at 6 am. It will go to Khanapara via AT Road and GS Road and return to the playground of Sonaram HS School, where the flag will be flagged off. Both men and women over the age of 12 can participate in the half marathon.
Formed on 26th September 2021, Save Bharalu is launching a series of awareness campaigns among the public and informing them about the current plight and sad condition of the Bharalu River.

To focus on the urgent need to restore the river, it has already conducted a series of awareness campaigns among school children and riverside residents.

The Bharalu River originates from the foothills of the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya and flows through Guwahati before meeting the Brahmaputra. It is known as Bahini River in its upper reaches.
The railway passes through the densely populated areas of Basistha, Beltola, Rukmini Gaon, Ganeshguri, Dispur and Hengerabari and then along the RG Baruah Road, where it finally meets a large drain, the effluent of Guwahati Refinery near Assam State. Picks up Botanical Garden with Zoo. From here the name of the river got Bharalu.
Another stream of the river flows towards Paltan Bazar to meet Borsola Beel, from where it flows towards Deepor Beel, carrying all the liquid waste of the city.
Dr Mazumdar has initiated the initiative after realizing that the state government and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation have failed to save the river, which carries nearly 70% of the city’s rainwater during the monsoon season.

“We have the experience of swimming in Bharalu river which is unimaginable now. The water was so clear that fishermen used to fish there. I remember in 1969 there used to be beautiful green cover from Rajgarh to Zoo Road and from “The Bharalu river used to flow clean. But when Guwahati started developing, the river started to deteriorate. Earlier there was no plastic culture in Guwahati. People used to carry paper bags or some other bags to the market, but now things are different,” said Dr. Mazumdar said.
“Due to the apathetic attitude of the authorities concerned, the river, which was once home to various aquatic species, has turned into a sewage drain of the city. The river which was a source of people 60 years ago is now black all year round. And remains dirty.

He said that the inaction of the government over the years has become an opportunity for some people to occupy the banks of the river and as a result the volume of the river has reduced drastically.
Degradation of Bharalu started in 1975 but now it has become a river of dangerous chemicals like arsenic, cadmium and chromium. In a recent survey, the State Pollution Control Board has marked Bharalu as one of the most polluted rivers with a BOD level of 52.0 mg/l which makes it undrinkable,” he said. said
“The development of Bharalu was not even part of the Smart City proposal given by the Assam government,” he said.
Dr Ruby Kataki, a dentist at the Regional Dental College and joint secretary of Save Bharalu (Save Bharalu) Abhijan, said, “We want to spread awareness that Bharalu is a river, not a drain, and to encourage residents of Guwahati to refrain from throwing garbage into it. Should.”
“We have done many activities to draw people’s attention to Bharlu. On the occasion of World Rivers Day, a cycle rally was organized from Jonali to Bharalumukh on 26 September 2021. An all-Assam essay among school children. A painting competition was organized with Bharalu as the main theme.On 14th November, ‘On the Spot Painting Competition’ among school students, debate competition among college students and quiz competition among senior school students were also organized at Kumarpara Namghar. ,” said Dr. Kataki.
The state government has made several announcements from time to time to make Bharlu clear of encroachments and prevent dumping of garbage in it. But while excavation work is going on in some parts of Bhadalu, including between RG Barua Road and GS Road, a section of irresponsible citizens continue to dump garbage in it.
The city generates about 70740 KL of sewage per day, a major part of which must be discharged into Bharalu and other rivers, streams and other water courses of the city.

Currently, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has set a target of cleaning around 1,000 km of drains this year as part of its mission for a flood-free Guwahati. It is learned that all the illegally constructed structures along the water bodies will be demolished.