Coal mining, waste discharge, encroachment: River Bhogdoi has been dying a slow death - Down To Earth Magazine

The inter-state river is one of Assam’s most polluted

The rampant coal mining in Nagaland, coupled with waste discharge from tea estates and encroachment have been sounding death knells for River Bhogdoi in Assam.

The river, one of the south bank tributaries of the mighty river Brahmaputra, originates from Mokokchung in Nagaland where it is also known as Tsujenyong nullah.

The total catchment area of the inter-state river (flowing between Assam and Nagaland) is 1,545 square kilometres and travels 160 kilometres before joining Dhansiri river near its confluence with Brahmaputra.

Manganese contamination

In 2019, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declared Bhogdoi as one of the most polluted rivers in Assam and 351st among the polluted rivers in the country.

In June this year, dead fish were sighted in several areas along the banks. These deaths were linked to contamination. Locals in Jorhat city and neighbouring Mariani complained of water turning sticky and murky.

Coal mining in Nagaland introduced high levels of manganese in the river, an investigation conducted by the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) of Jorhat division indicated.

The department also suggested decontaminating the water before supplying to towns and testing several times before supplying for consumption.

Kuldeep Das, executive engineer, Jorhat PHED, said:

We tested the water and found the presence of manganese in it. We didn’t do further testing. The coal mining in...

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