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CHAPTER - 3

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN LAKHIMPUR DISTRICT

3.1: Introduction:

The name of “Lakhimpur” is derived from two Assamese words ‘Lakshmi’ means

paddy and ‘Pur’ means full. The word Lakhimpur therefore, means full of paddy or

the place where paddy is grown abundantly. The economy of the district is mainly

dependent upon agriculture and mainly cultivation of paddy. The soil of the district

is alluvial and fertile and that is why crops flourish here without use of any artificial

manure or hard labour. But the area is facing some serious environmental problems

mainly after the mid twentieth century. The situation has been posing serious

challenges to the life and livelihood of the people particularly of rural poor whose

life and livelihood are very much dependent on the availability and quality of natural

resources. This chapter examines the driving forces of environmental degradation

which exacerbated the impacts of floods and stand as major constraint of enjoyment

of basic human rights in Lakhimpur District.

3.2: Profile of Lakhimpur District:

Lakhimpur District is situated at the Northeast corner of the Brahmaputra valley

of Assam. The district lies between 26°48’ and 27°53' Northern latitude and

93°42' and 94°20' East longitude of World map. It is bounded on the North by

Papumpare, Lower Subanshiri and West Siang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh,

Majuli Sub-Division of Jorhat District on the South, Dhemaji District and

Subanshiri River stand on the Eastern side and Gohpur Sub-Division of Sonitpur

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District is on the West. The district covers an area of 2277 sq. km. which is 2.90

percent of total geographical area of Assam. Of its geographical area 2261.26

sq.km is rural and 15.74 sq.km. is urban. Total agricultural land is 103949

hectare which constitutes 45.65 percent of total geographical area (2004-05).

(Source: Census Report, 2001)

The present set up of Lakhimpur District with two sub-divisions North

Lakhimpur and Dhakuakhana came into existence on second October 1989 with

its head quarter at North Lakhimpur.1 Presently it comprises seven Revenue

Circles nine Development Blocks eighty one Gaon Panchayats and one thousand

one hundred and forty Revenue Villages.

The history of Lakhimpur as a district is very long. The district was notified as

Lakhimpur District in July, 1839 through a proclamation issued by the then

Governor General (Source: Assam State Gazetteers, Vol. 1, 1999). Due to several lapse

including failure to regular payment of annual tribute to British administration by

Ahom ruler Puranda Singha his kingdom over Upper Assam was annexed to the

British dominion in the year 1838, and by the said proclamation was placed

under direct British administration. Upper Assam was formed in to two districts

viz. Sibpur or Sibsagar which include the tract south of the old course of the

Brahmaputra and Lakhimpur comprising a vast area of northern part of the

Brahmaputra River. The district has undergone major change during the year

from 1971 to 1989. On second

October, 1971 it was bifurcated in to two districts

Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh. The sub-division of Lakhimpur District was North

Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. Later it was again reorganized in the year 1989 leaving

Dhemaji as a separate district.

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Map 3.1: Assam in India map

Map 3.2: Lakhimpur District in Assam map.

Map 3.3: Boundaries of Lakhimpur District with river system

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Demography:

The total population of Lakhimpur District is 889010 persons, which constitutes

3.34 percent population of Assam. Out of the total population 455691(51.26

percent) are male and 433319 (48.74 percent) are female and 823867(92.68

percent) are rural and 65153(7.32 percent) are urban. The population of

Lakhimpur District is heterogeneous consisting with several religious

communities and Schedule Caste (S.C.) and Schedule Tribe (S.T.) communities

each nursing its own customs and practices. Out of the total population Schedule

Tribe (ST) population is 208864 (23.49 percent) and Schedule Caste (SC)

population is 70060 (7.88 percent). The ST & SC population in the district is

quite large than the in comparison to the 12.41 percent and 6.85 percent of the ST

& SC population of the State of Assam. The majority of the population is made

up with non-tribal Assamese people with fare share of Nepali, Tea Garden

Labourers, Bengali, Bihari, Marowari and Sikh. The dominated religion group in

the district is Hindu with 79 percent population followed by Muslims with 16

percent and Christian mere 4 percent. Total number of household in the district is

1,57,167 out of which 1,43,412 (91.25 percent) are rural and 13,755 (8.75

percent) are urban. Density of the population in the district is 391 per sq. km.

Literacy rate of the district is 68.56 percent, of which the male literacy rate is

77.06 percent and the female literacy rate is 59.59 percent. (Source: Statistical Hand

Book, 2009 and Assam at a Glance, 2005)

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Forest Area and River System:

Forests of Lakhimpur District are mainly tropical rain forest. Total forest area of

the district is 35,878 hectare which falls under five Reserve Forests namely

Ranga Reserve Forest, 8,529.71 hectare, Pabha Reserve Forest with 1,605.87

hectare, Kakoi Reserve Forest with 4,41503 hectare, Dulung Reserve Forest with

9,900.03 hectare and Kadam Reserve Forest with 3,625.91 hectare. The Kadam

is the oldest Reserve Forest of Lakhimpur Division which was constituted in the

year 1885. The Dullung Reserve Forest came into being in 1913 followed by the

Ranga and Kakoi Reserve Forest in 1919. The Pabha Game Forest was declared in

the year 1941. The varieties of tree species grown in the forests are Sia-Nahar,

Nahar, Bonsum, Amari, Koroi, Jutuli, Hollock, Simul, Outenga, Uriam, Bhomora,

Sam, Ajar, Banderdima, Dhuna, Hingori, Poma, Bola, Bhelu, Sonaru, etc. Besides

valuable tree species in the wet area of Dullung, Kakoi, Ranga and Pabha reserve

forest was rich with Lezai and Jati cane. (Source: Lakhimpur Forest Division, 2003)

The area is very rich in water resource. A large number of rivers, streams and

jans’ most of originating from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh flow through the

district and merge in the mighty river Brahmaputra at south. The Brahmaputra is

one of the largest rivers in the world. It is the second largest river in terms of load

deposition after the yellow river of China. The Brahmaputra is the fourth biggest

river in the world in terms of annual discharge rate of about 19,830 cubic meters

per second. The river Brahmaputra is the southern boundary of the study area and

it touches all along the southern and south-eastern boundary. The other important

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river is Subansiri originates in Tibet. Flowing 273 kms. downstream from its

origin, it enters the plains of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji District and flowing

through the fertile land of Lakhimpur covering a distance of 90 km.. The river

assumes the name of Lohit after combining with stream Kharkatia Suti. The

river discharges 2, 09,546 Cusecs of water at Bhimpara Ghat of the district.

The Ranganadi River another tributary of mighty river Brahmaputra is originates

from the Dafla hills of Arunachal Pradesh. Normally the river discharges 170-

180 cusecs per second in winter and 1800-2000 cusecs per second in summer. It

discharges 17,500 cusecs of water at 2 miles upstream of National Highway

52.The other B category river is the Dikrong originates from the Dafla Hills of

Arunachal Pradesh. It enters in Lakhimpur near Harmutty Tea Estate and runs 25

miles to join the Brahmaputra at Badati. It discharges 20,000 cusecs of water at 1

mile down stream of National Highway-52. In Category, C there are four rivers

namely Boginadi, Pabha, Singra, and Durpang. In Category, D there are eleven

rivers namely Dirgha, Kakoi, Pichala, Sumdiri, Hatilung, Sessa, Meneha, Goriajan,

Korha, Sampora, and Charikoria. (Source: Water Resource Division, Lakhimpur)

Occupational Pattern:

The total working population in the district is 4, 97,745, which constitutes 55.98

percent of total population of the district. Among working population 2, 88,052

(57.87 percent) are main workers and 2, 09,693(42.13 percent) are marginal

workers. Total 3, 38,303 (67.97 percent) working population are cultivators. The

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Agricultural labourers, household Industrial workers and others workers are

34,713(6.97 percent) 12,042 (2.42 percent) and 1, 12,687 (22.64 percent)

respectively of total working population. (Source: Statistical Hand Book, Assam, 2008)

About 80 percent of the population of the district depends solely on agriculture for

their livelihood. The area size of the operational holding in the study area is less than 1

hectare. Paddy is the main crop covering about 67 percent of the gross cropped area.

Among principal crops of the district Kharif crops cover the major parts of the gross

cropped area followed by Rabi crops like jute, mustard, wheat, pulses. (Source:

Statistical Hand Book Assam, 2008)

Table 3.1

Land Holding Pattern in Lakhimpur District

Class Total Area(in hectare)

Total Geographical Area 2,27,700

Forest Land 35,878

Grazing Land 4,331

Land put to non-agricultural uses

And uncultivable land put to nonltural

87,529

Net area Sown 100,169

Area Sown more than once 75,944

Total Cropped area 176,133

Source: Census Report, 2001

According to agricultural experts, the size of operational holding below 2 hectares is

uneconomic and, so are either small or marginal holdings.2

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Livestock rearing has traditionally been a source of occupation for a large

majority of the people in the district since time immemorial. However, the sector

has not yet been exploited on commercial basis. People of the district generally

rear buffalo, cattle, pig, sheep,/goat, and poultry. After agriculture and livestock

rearing the people of study area is very much dependent on fishing and fish

cultivation. The area has a water spread area of around 10708 hectare under

various forms of fishery resources like ponds, tanks, swamps, beels, low-laying

areas, derelict water bodies and rivers etc. Number of registered beels and river

fisheries in the district is 11 and 08. There is immense scope of development of

pisciculture in Lakhimpur due to huge presence of potential resources. (Source:

Biodiversity of Assam, Assam science society, 2006)

Human Development Indicators:

The Human Development Indicators (HDI) rank of the district was seventieth

with HDI value of 0.337 in 2001 which was lowest of the State average of 0.407.

The Income Index value was 0.154 which was almost half of state average of

0.286 and is ranked thirteenth. The Health Index value was 0.200 which was

below the state average of 0.343 and only ranked twentieth in the state (Source:

Human Development Report, Assam 2003 The health infrastructures of the district

presently comprises with one Civil Hospital, six block Public Health Centers,

twelve Mini Public Health Centre, three Sub Health Centre, five State

Dispensaries, one hundred sixty six Sub-Centers (Source: N R H M, State Health

Action Plan, Assam 2007-08).

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Some contributing factors of the backwardness of the area are its strategic

geographical location and geographical remoteness of the district, lack of batter

rail and road communication, degradation of natural resources and scarcity of

modern equipments, improper plan and lack of holistic approach, lack of proper

vision of people’s representatives, lack of big industries, absence of technical

institution, severe power crisis, large scale unemployment and chronic problem

of flood. Of all the main problems faced by the district from long time the

problem of chronic flood & erosion and the problem of bad road communication

occupy prime position.3

3.3: Environmental Degradation and its Causes:

The driving forces of environmental degradation are identified by Paul and Anne

Erhilch with three variables, Lamont C. Hempel with eight variables and

environmentalist by five variables. These variables are universal and responsible

for continuous environmental degradation in different countries and region in

varying degrees. Of all these variables which are interrelated and caused

degradation of environment, three are mainly responsible for decline of

environmental quality in the study area. The increasing trend of flood hazard, the

main constraint of human rights are selected by the researcher to examine. These

three driving forces are abnormal and sudden jump of population growth, loss of

forest cover and negative impact of unsustainable developmental activities.

Population explosion results in increasing occupation of flood plains and the

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large scale depletion of forest cover and unsustainable developmental activities

have increased the adverse impacts of floods on society and the environment.

Population Increase:

Population is an important source of development, yet it is a major source of

environmental degradation when it exceeds the threshold limits of the support

systems. It is well recognized that ever increasing population at alarming rate is

mainly responsible for environmental degradation in various levels. Industrial

expansion, urbanization, agricultural development, increases in means of

transport and communication etc. which poses serious challenges to the natural

environment are by- products of the population growth. These are simply means

to meet the needs and to provide better life to the growing population. Increased

population means more requirements of foods, housing, cloths and other needs.

“As population grows, the shrinking per capita supply of the natural resources

threatens not only the quality of life but, in some situations, even life itself”.4

Table 3.2:

Decadal Percentage Variation in Population of India, Assam, Lakhimpur District

1901-

1911

1931-

1941

1941-

1951

1951-

1961

1961-

1971

1971-

1991

1991-

2001

India 25.20 31.85 36.10 21.64 24.80 24.26 21.54

Assam 16.99 20.40 19.93 34.98 34.95 53.26 18.92

Lakhimpur 26.29 22.70 17.94 50.46 43.39 56.29 18.30

Source: Economic Survey Assam, 2007-08, Appendix-III

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Abnormal growth of population is mainly responsible for the environmental

problems that the people of the Lakhimpur District have been facing since many

years. The population explosion in the district could be well analyzed with the

percentage of decadal variation of population growth from 1901 to 1991 in the

district. The Figure 3.3 clearly indicates that the decadal growth rate of

population in Lakhimpur during almost entire 20th

century from (1901 to 1991)

was quite high than the state and national growth rate. During four decades from

1951 to 1991 the population growth rate of Lakhimpur was abnormal and was

well above in compare to state and national growth rate. This sudden jump of the

decadal population growth rate in the district mostly resulted from huge influx of

population from the neighbouring states and countries particularly after 1947 and

1971 coupled with high birth rate. The density of population in the Lakhimpur

District is 391 person per.sq.km is also quite high than the 325 and 340

population density of India and Assam respectively, (Census Report, 2001).

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The failure to harness/control population growth has aggravated the problem of

poverty which is a major constraint of protection of environment and human

rights. It is widely recognized that no social phenomenon is as full in its attack on

human rights as poverty which deny individuals their fundamental rights and in

turn prevent them from living a dignified and meaningful lives. In Stockholm

Conference of 1972, the problem of poverty was seen largely as a problem of

pollution and in this conference Indira Gandhi (the late Prime Minister of India)

had rightly remarked, “Poverty is the greatest pollution on natural environment

affecting body, mind and society.” Poverty means absence of adequate means of

livelihood. Lack of adequate means of livelihood made the people more reliant

on natural resources. Poor have no option but to over exploit natural resources in

order to survive. Survival takes precedent over concern for future security and

this compulsion has forced them to sacrifice their future to survive in the present.

They have little margin for subsistence and therefore, in the struggle to survive

today, they heavily discount the future. The Human Development Report 2003

observed that ‘many environmental problems stem from poverty often

contributing to a downward spiral in which poverty exacerbates environmental

degradation and environmental degradation exacerbates poverty. Poverty

indicates the lack of a minimum standard of living. There is a broad consensus

that the minimum should include a nutritionally satisfactory diet, a reasonable

standard of clothing, housing and other essentials and access to a minimum level

of education, healthcare, clean water supply and sanitary environment. Thus poor

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are both victims and agent of environmental damage. This phenomenon results in

the vicious cycle of population growth, environmental degradation and human

rights violation.

More population means more demand for natural resources, more demands of

natural resources leads to overexploitation of such resources and overexploitation

of finite natural resources results in environmental degradation. Over use and free

access of common resources without restriction, which is remarked by the

biologist Geratt Hardin,1968 as the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ is a major

contributing factor of environmental degradation in the study area. The

consequence of the linkage between poverty and environmental degradation is a

vicious cycle in which poverty causes the degradation of environment, and such

degradation in turn perpetuates more poverty.

Figure 3.2: The Vicious Cycle of Population Growth, Environmental

Degradation and Human Rights Violation

Population

Growth

Demand for More

Natural Resources

Environmental

Degradation

Human Rights

Violation

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Under sustainable development the relationship between poverty and

environmental change is described as a two-way interactive process.5 The

Human Development Report 2003 has mentioned that many environmental

problems stem from poverty often contributing to a downward spiral in which

poverty exacerbates environmental degradation and environmental degradation

exacerbates poverty. Environmental risks and uncertainty represent the real

underlying causes of degradation, forcing the poor to adopt coping mechanisms

which may undermine their natural resource base.6 The Chronic Poverty Report

2004-2005 very rightly remarked that environmental causes of poverty often

combine with other political, social and economic causes experience several

forms of disadvantage and discrimination at the same time to the chronically poor

people. Poor people of the study area basically rely on resources obtainable from

their environment for sustenance, and hence, are severely affected by

environmental degradation. The violations of their basic human rights in the

form of poverty, illiteracy are again responsible for the growth of population.

Poverty and environmental degradation are often bound together in a mutually

reinforcing vicious cycle, and thus human rights abuses related to poverty can be

both cause and effects of environmental problems.7

Figure 3.3: Vicious Cycle of Natural Resource Degradation

Reduce Return Population Growth

Poverty

Resource Degradation

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The Figure 3.3 shows a vicious cycle of resource degradation, low return, poverty

and population growth. Degradation of natural resources leads to decreases in

productivity and low return which in turn leads to poverty. Poverty is one of the

main grounds of population growth and more population leads to degradation of

natural resources and it runs in a cyclic way. Poverty reduces people’s ability to

allocate resources effectively and to respond to changes.

The Planning Commission Government of India under 10th plan namely the

Backward Districts of India has identified Lakhimpur District as backward

District among five districts of Assam. Total BPL households in Lakhimpur are

44 percent of the total population. Land holding of each BPL family is only 0.35

hectare (Source: RSVY Plane, Lakhimpur District, Assam). Though huge amount

has been spent in the district under Rural Developmental Programmes every year

for eradicating rural poverty but it only achieved very limited success because of

the lack of proper planning. Most poverty alleviation measures for development

and improvement of livelihoods failed to address the root causes of poverty.

Flood control and protection of agricultural land from flood and erosion etc.,

which are major drivers of environmental degradation and human rights violation

have not addressed through giving adequate consideration in the poverty

alleviation programmes. Protection of the environment is vital to the achievement

of poverty reduction.

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Source: Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY) Plane, Lakhimpur District.

The abnormally growing population in the district to meet their basic needs

ruthlessly exploit limited natural resources by altering and transforming

wetlands, grassland, fallow lands, forests and river banks into agricultural and

residential land. Owing to over exploitation of natural resources and increases in

the demands of fuel, fodder, shelter communication etc placed the environment

of the district under severe stress.

Table 3.2

Progressive Shortening of Fallow Land

Year Total fallow Total cropped land Area show more than once

1998-1998 12850 155229 67863

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1999-2000 4330 178303 81117

2003-2004 4320 166931 67302

2004-2005 3780 176113 75944

Source: Statistical Handbook Assam, 2001,2003,2005,2007 and 2009.

The Table 3.2 indicates that the shortening of fallow in Lakhimpur during 1998

to 2005 is 71 percent, the increase of cropland during the period is 13.45 percent

and the increase of area shown more than once is almost 12 percent. There has

been substantial increase in agricultural land every year in order to increase

agricultural production to feed more people. The net area sown continuously

increased from 87366 hectares in 1998-99 to 100169 hectares in 2004-2005.

Due to various measures like family planning, check in the flow of immigration

the high decadal population growth rate suddenly came down to 18.30 per cent

in 1991-2001 in Lakhimpur which was marginally lower than the state rate of

18.75 percent and national rate of 21.35 percent.

3.2.2: Decline of Forest Cover:

There are altogether five Reserve Forests in the Lakhimpur District. Put together

they cover an area of 31101 Sq.km. and constitute only 13.65 percent of its total

geographical area. It is less of 19.36 percent of required forest cover prescribed

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by the National Forest Policy. Since there are no unclassified state forests in the

district, therefore the reserve forests require to meet all the present and future

demands of timber and other forest product. Increasing conversion of the life

support system into personal use to satisfy people’s needs and greed has changed

the natural ecological relationship drastically in the study area.

Map 3.5: Forest area in Study Area

Source: Divisional Forest Office, Lakhimpur, 2009

The record provided by the Working Plan of Lakhimpur Forest Division (Part-I,

2003) shows that Lakhimpur has lost almost 7990 hectare (25.69 percent) of its

total forest area due to human encroachment.

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Figure 3.5: Area under Encroachment in Different Reserve Forest

Source: The Working Plan of Lakhimpur Forest Division, 2003.

The Figure 3.5 shows large scale decline of forest cover in the study area. The

Forest Survey of India in its “Report on Fuel wood, timber and fodder from

forest of India” has estimated fuel wood demand at 338 Kg. and 435 Kg.

respectively for the rural and urban areas of Assam. Considering this figure the

annual demand of firewood for Lakhimpur District is estimated at 3, 36,050

tones. Taking annual out turn of 100 tones per hectare total 3,360 hectare is

required to meet the firewood demand of the district. This calculation is based on

assumption that entire firewood demand will be meeting from supplies coming

from forests. Forest Survey of India in its report, 2005 mentioned that total 94 sq.

km. which is more than 30 percent of its total forest area is cleared in Lakhimpur.

Grey literature (reports of local assamese newspapers, articles published in local

magazines and souvenirs) provides information that depletion of forest cover is

still going on at an alarming rate in all the reserve forests.

Area under Encroachment in different Reserve Forest under

Lakhimpur Forest Division as on 31/12/03 (in hect.)

870 85012521518

3500

Ranga Kakoi Dullung Pabha Kadam

Total Area Area under Encroachment % of Encroachment

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Forests are invaluable property and are regarded as ‘life line’ of a nation because

of their immense services to environmental conservation and mankind. In fact

prosperity and welfare of a society directly depends on sound and healthy forest

cover. Forest resources directly contribute to the livelihoods of people, and

nourish agriculture and food supplies, and thus constitute a major source of

national wealth.8 According to National Forest Policy (NFP) 1988, 33 percent of

the total geographical area of the country should be under considerable forest

cover for the maintenance of a better ecological balance. The increasing

depletion of this important natural resource has disrupted the ecological balance

of the region leading to catastrophic result in the form of unusual floods.

Deforestation promotes floods and landslides because the natural buffers of the

forests no longer absorb the rainfall they used to. In the areas surrounded by the

trees, erosion of soil is checked and low-intensity floods get balanced. Indian

environmentalists have argued that destruction of forests in the Himalayan

uplands exacerbated the problems of floods in the plains.9 In a study report

prepared by the World Resource Institute (WRI) sponsored by World Bank and

UNDP stated that the faulty land use practices of poor hill dwellers victimized

the plain dwellers by their misdeeds.10

In 1970 at Gopeswar under Garwal

District of Uttaranchal launched the ‘Chipko Movement, against felling of trees

in the Himalayan region to protect the villages from devastation of flash floods of

Alakananda River. When strong shower falls on the slope of the hill, they wash

away the loose soil cover and only trees can hold the soil cover. The World

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Disaster Report 1999, points out that a single tree can absorb 200 liters of water

or more per hour and its loss can worsen the problem of floods.11

Absence of

forest cover not only contributes to shallow landslides but also to gully erosion,

resulting in land degradation and higher sediment discharges from catchments.

The significant deforestation at the slope of the hills in Arunachal Pradesh and

flood plains in the district in the name of development have destroyed the

ecology of rivers and make floods more devastating in the district. The loss of

forest cover in the catchment areas of rivers leads to heavy soil erosion, increases

sediment load and siltation over riverbeds which reduced the storage capacity of

the rivers and responsible for heavy runoff” and overtopping. In a study on

‘Hydroelectric Project and Livelihood Assessment of Subansiri River in NE

India’ conducted by Boruah D. and Hazarika L.P., 2008, it appears that

maximum siltation on the river bed of Subansiri is mainly responsible for

increasing the tendency of flood and erosion of the river. In this study they found

that maximum siltation in the river bed of Subansiri raised abnormally up to 7

meters at a particular spot during the year of 2008.12

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The Figure 3.6 indicates that rapid population growth leads to deforestation,

which in turn accelerate floods and soil erosion and decreases the agricultural

productivity. This phenomenon is clearly visible in Lakhimpur District.

Population growth and deforestation very badly affected the agriculture

productivity which is the principal economy of the region by soil erosion and

floods. One of the adverse impacts of floods on the people’s lives and livelihood

is that floods decrease the potentiality of agricultural production by damaging

crop land and shrinking limited precious cultivable lands.

Table 3.3

District-wise Land Productivity in Assam (2000-2001)

Sl. No. Name of the District Land productivity-

Quintals in per hectare

1 Barpeta 11.70

2 Bongaigaon 10.28

3 Cachar 21.13

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4 Darrang 11.83

5 Dhemaji 13.26

6 Dhubri 14.08

7 Dibrugarh 16.12

8 Goalpara 16.49

9 Golaghat 18.91

10 Hailakandi 17.38

11 Jorhat 15.54

12 Kamrup 13.50

13 Karbi Anglong 13.40

14 Karimganj 21.28 Highest

15 Kokrajhar 10.58

16 Lakhimpur 09.81 Lowest

17 Morigaon 18.95

18 Nalbari 10.94

19 NC Hills 12.88

20 Nagaon 16.51

21 Sibsagar 19.36

22 Sonitpur 12.76

23 Tinsukia 13.38

Source: Directorate of Statistic and Economics, Govt. of Assam

The Table 3.3 indicates that the productivity of the soil in Lakhimpur District

decreases considerably and was at the lowest position in Assam in agriculture

production. The agricultural productivity in the year 2000-2001 of Lakhimpur was

only 9.81 quintals per hectare which was almost half against national average of 17

quintals per hectare and two third of state average of 14.78 quintals per hectare and

is lowest among 23 districts of Assam (Source: Directorate of Statistic and

Economics, Government of Assam ). Value of crop output per hectare was close to

Rupees 10,000.00 (ten thousand) in the district whereas North Cachar Hills came

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at the top with per hectare productivity of Rupees 43.700.00 (forty three thousand

seven hundred).13

It is a matter of great concern because once quality of land is

lost diminishing returns come into operation with adverse impacts upon the rural

economy. Uncertain environment results in a vicious cycle of vulnerability. It is a

serious challenge to the life and livelihood of the people of the study area where

more than 3/4th

of the total working population is engaged in agriculture. Low

productivity from land has deviated many people of the district to cultivate their

lands for food crop. Though the name Lakhimpur was christened from the word “

Lakshimi”, but data indicate that in recent time it lost the worth of its name mainly

due the degradation of environment. Sluggish growth pattern and low-yielding

agriculture in the region depict a grim picture, making the regional food

insecurity grievous in the face of sharply growing population.

The rapid decline of forest cover in the district was caused for a number of

reasons. Absences of management policy, easy accessibility, people’s perception,

inadequate protection, lust of corrupt government officials particularly of forest

department, influence of local businessmen, hazard of floods and migration of

large population to the district were some main reasons. Due to inadequate

protection accorded at the reserve forests, encroachment and illegal felling of the

trees is continuing unabated and the position of reserve forests virtually exist

only on paper. Since there is no settlement policy of government for internally

displaced person, the villagers displaced by floods and erosions often-encroached

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forest areas for settlement. They cleared forest areas for construction of house, to

earn their livelihoods and to meet other basic needs. The timber yielding trees,

bamboos, rattans and the macrophysics available in the riverbanks are chiefly

used in making thatched house of flood prone people.14

Besides encroachment,

felling of trees legal and illegal ways for trading caused great loss to the forest

cover. Due to lack of proper protection with adequate security measures like

fencing, check post etc vast areas of these forests are cleared and encroached

mainly by people of Arunachal Pradesh. Inability of the forest department to

control illegal encroachment of forest area and felling of trees amounts to

violation of the right to a clean and healthy environment.

Table 3.4

Agricultural Damages of Floods in 1997-2008

Year Farm family

Affected (in nos.)

Village affected

(in nos.)

Crop area

affected (in ha)

Value of agricultural

damage (in corer)

1997-98 48,560 772 22,277 25.0

1998-99 82,250 788 39,644 4.9

1999-2000 36,075 294 7, 537 6.7

2001-02 64,571 773 27,291 24.8

2002-03 62,531 775 16,459 27,2

2003-04 67,658 775 33,518 44.8

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2004-05 78,002 773 16,720 57.27

2005-06 24,020 297 8,790 14.65

2007-08 10,781 551 23,117 19.25

Source: District Agriculture Office , Lakhimpur, 2009

Among twenty seven districts of Assam the Planning Commission of India

identified five districts viz., Dhemaji, North Lakhimpur, Kokrajhar, Karbi

Anglong and North Cachar Hills as disadvantaged districts based on three criteria

(a) agricultural productivity per worker; (b) agricultural wage rate; and (c)

scheduled castes and tribal population. The five districts have unique

characteristics in their agro-ecological, anthropogenic, societal, cultural and

economical dimensions. The major constraints in Lakhimpur District is chronic

flood resulted from high precipitation.15

To protect the forest cover the existing Lakhimpur Forest Division was

constituted by government in the year 1998. Presently it has two Ranges, thirteen

numbers of Beats, two Sub Beats and twelve camps. But despite such a strong

administrative set-up the forest division failed to protect forest resource which

plays a vital role in sustaining ecology and environment of the district in general

and life of the people in particular. A Public Interest Litigation was filed in 1995

against the rampant felling of trees in the forest and the Supreme Court came

forward with an intervention in December 1996. It was believed that the order

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was a right step towards the preservation of ecology of the region. But despite the

ban the illegal felling of trees continued at an alarming rate in all the reserve

forests. In 1997, Assam ranked 11th in the country’s list of states having

forestland. However, it came down to 12th in 1999. During this period, Assam’s

forestland has reduced by 850 sq km. In 1993, the area of forestland in Assam

was 24,508 sq km, which came down to 23,688 sq km in 1999.16

In June 1990,

the forest department of Government of India has introduced the Joint Forestry

Management (JFM) programme in the country. The philosophy of JFM in

essence aims at involving people in resource generation through motivation, and

eliciting their participation in forest management and sharing of benefits through

adequate institutional arrangements (TERI report on JFM, 2001). The JFM

programme was implemented in this division from 2005-06 in all four reserve

forests except Kadam Reserve Forest. This scheme also has not been gaining any

noticeable result due to corruption and mismanagement. Under Lakhimpur Forest

Division total twenty numbers of JFMC are operating. During field survey

people informed that most of them are only in name. This allegation is proved by

the fact that the records of forest position do not show any progress. During

investigation it was observed that one important point of failure of JFM policy in

the region is that the services from the poor villagers in management and protection

of forest cannot be expected unless economic security is provided to them.

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The three R.F, Dullung, Kakoi and Ranga are located in the northern part of the

district at the Assam Arunachal Pradesh border. The local people belonging to

S.T. and S.C. communities and people illegally migrated to the district are the

main encroachers in Pabha and Kadam Reserve Forests. The Krishak Mukti

Sangram Samiti has stood against the forest department at Lakhimpur alleging

illegal deforestation and encroachment by Arunachali people towards which the

department has turned a blind eye. The district KMSS in association with

Harmati regional body carried out a protest program at the Harmati forest ranger

office. The protesting bodies gave a deadline of 15 days to the concerned

department to come to a solution to the problems faced by the local people from

long time. (Source: 28-04-2011 | 09:37:33 IST | DY365 Bureau).

The destruction of green cover would have disastrous effects on not only for

present generation but also the generations to come. It is against the principle of

intergenerational equity which is one of the important principles of sustainable

development. Therefore, it is most necessary that all developmental activities need

to be addressed through proper consideration of environmental protection.

Environmental protection need to be viewed through human rights approach so that

conducive environment can be restored for effective realization of human rights.

Impacts of Development:

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The environmental scenario of Lakhimpur District has been degraded

considerably due to unsustainable developmental activities performed here

without giving priority the possible adverse impacts on environment and people’s

human rights. The district is industrially very backward because no large scale or

heavy industries have so far been established in the district. But construction of

roads and embankments in an unplanned and unscientific way, excessive

quarrying from its river beds in legal and illegal ways without considering its

importance in the river ecosystem, construction of dams at upstream of its two

main rivers without proper provision of flood moderation and assessment of its

environmental and down stream impacts etc. lack of proper regulation on land

use in the flood plains which give way to encroachment of flood plains are some

major causes which are causing continuous deterioration of environmental

quality in the district.. All these activities cause obstruction in the natural flow

and destruction of river eco-system which are mainly responsible for causing

flood havoc in the region.

The 405 Mega Watt (3 x 135 MW) Ranganadi Hydro-Electrical Power Project

constructed by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) on the up

stream of river Ranganadi at Eajuli of Arunachal Pradesh is a vital attack on the

environment of the district situated at downstream. NEEPCO was incorporated

on 2nd

April, 1976 as a wholly owned government enterprise under the Ministry

of Power, to plan, promote, investigate, survey, design, construct, generate,

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operate and maintain power station in the NE Region. The environmental

problems arising due to the project have adversely affected the life support

system in this region. Deforestation, soil erosion, sedimentation on the river bed,

artificial flooding and complete dry up of river in winter season have emerged as

major environmental problems of the project which have been facing by the

people of the district from beginning of the current century. The Ranganadi

riverbed is alarmingly rising and the natural carrying capacity of the river

decreased considerably in recent years due to faulty dam construction. Now the

riverbed of Ranganadi is so shallow that it resembles to a football field.17

Instead

of controlling floods the Ranganadi Dam itself is source of flash floods. On

several occasions the project suddenly released large quantities of water on the

river to prevent the crossing of Maximum Water Level (MWL) and for ensuring

the safety of dam without any prior warning to the people living in catchment

area of the river and at the time when the river is full with rainwater. Thus it

causes flash flood situation for many times and creates panic among riparian of

downstream. It is a real threat to flood moderation aspect as also to the safety of

the flood embankments situated at the downstream catchments. In a Report

prepared by North Lakhimpur Water Resource Division it is clearly mentioned

that sudden release of excessive water from the Ranganadi Dam made flood

situation worsen in North Lakhimpur (Sub-Division of Lakhimpur District) in

the year 2007. 18

On June 14th

, 2008 a heavy flood was caused by sudden release

of water from Ranganadi Hydro Power Project. The intensity of the flood was so

130

high that it washed away a large portion of left bank embankment of the river

Ranganadi, railway track and a portion of National Highway 52 disrupting all

means of communication to the district, 11 persons lost their lives, hundred of

villages were inundated and caused heavy loss to the private and public

properties. Total population affected by dam induced floods is 3,01,325 persons,

affected villages are 347 and total area inundated by floods is 75,195 hectares.19

Photo 3.1: Devastation of dam-induced flood Photo 3.2: The river bed of Ranganadi is

of Ranganadi Dam. Source: The Assam dried- up due to not release of minimum

dated Tribune, 19/6/08 water from Ranganadi Dam

Source: Field survey by the researcher (photo Nov. 09)

The Photo 3.1 and 3.2 shows two complete different pictures which corroborate

two major threats of the lives and livelihoods of riparian communities. It has

been proved that the Ranganadi, run of river project having interred transfer

basin to river Dikrong which release water through six spillway gates consisting

of 120 sq. m. of each gate cannot minimize the flood hazards in the downstream

area and has influenced more flood havoc in the lower reaches of the district. The

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Ministry of Power government of India clarified that due to heavy rainfall in the

catchment areas of river Ranganadi in the evening of June 13, 2008 the inflow of

water into the river increased to the tune of approximately 428 cumec in the early

hours of June 14 and to approximately 2120 cumec by 0510 hours. The huge

inflow could not be stored in the small reservoir of 5.7 m.cumec capacity.

Therefore, the water was allowed to pass downstream through the spillways

meant for this purpose and also for the safety of the small dam.20

Besides, one of the most harmful, irresponsible and unaccountable activity of the

NEEPCO authority is the diversion of flow of the river Ranganadi into the river

Dikrong through canals to produce hydro-electric energy. It has led to a problem

of diminished water flows of river Ranganadi and during last four years the river

completely dried up in many occasions at lower reach of the river in winter

season. In what may be termed an early warning to an apocalyptic ecological

disaster, the waters of Ranganadi dried up completely on its downstream course

near North Lakhimpur due to the blockade by the Ranganadi Dam at the

upstream of the river. The blockade has not only dried the river in downstream

areas of Lakhimpur District but also dried the underground water levels of the

Ranganadi river basin area in a large periphery which has resulted in

desertification of agricultural lands.21

132

Water is more essential for human survival than food. Water is one of the

greatest gifts of nature and is a most essential attribute of the right to life.

Sustainable management of a river as a resource requires that water is delivered

at the time of need for human use and that the supply is reliable. At the same

time, water should be available for the survival of the riverine ecosystems.

Equitable distribution of water is an integral part of the right to life and

development. For peace and progress and even for sustainability of all life forms

it is necessary to keep rivers alive throughout the year, pre and post monsoon

period. Absence of fresh water can lead to lack of safe drinking water, illnesses,

lack of water for irrigation and other economic activities that rely on it. It may

also cause harm in maintaining wetlands, riparian habitats, fisheries, wildlife

habitat for hunting and for migratory birds, rice cultivation areas, and fertilization

of floodplains, which may also provide floodwater storage.

Diversion of water from the river and deprivation of riparian people from access

to river water is a violation of the people's water right and is completely a breach

of “Public Trust”. The notion of the “Doctrine of the Public Trust” is primarily

rests on the principle that certain resources like, air, sea, waters and forests have

such a great importance to the people as a whole that it would be wholly

unjustified to make them a subject of private ownership. Being as a gift of nature

such resources should be made freely available to everyone irrespective of the

status in life. The right to access to the waters flowing in the river can never be

133

denied to the people living in the riparian regions. The doctrine of Public Trust

imposes a check upon governmental authorities who seek to divest State control

over such natural resources in favour of private interests. This doctrine primarily

serves two purposes. It mandates affirmative state action for effective

management of resources and empowers the citizens to question ineffective

management of natural resources.22

Public Trust can be used to protect the public

from poor application of planning law or environmental impact assessment.23

In

the Narmada Bachao Andolan case the Supreme Court held that “water is the

basic need for the survival of human beings and is part of right to life. In

M.C.Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997 1 SCC 388) the Supreme Court of India held

that the doctrine of Public Trust is held to imply restriction on authorities that,

the property subject to the trust must only be used for a public purpose, but it

must be held to be available for use by the general public. The notion of equity

and people’s right to enjoy a healthy environment has been closely connected

with the concept of public trust. The doctrine has been applied by Indian

judiciary recently and becomes a part of the law of the land. In M.I.Builders Pvt.

Ltd. V. Radhey Shyam Sahu (AIR 1999 SC 2468) and in The Majra Singh v.

Indian Oil Corporation (AIR 1999 J& K 81) the Indian judiciary confirmed that

the public trust doctrine has grown from article 21 of the constitution and has

become part of the Indian legal thought process for quite long time.

134

Source: Water Resource Department, Government of Assam.

The water flow of the river Ranganadi is considerably decreased after the

construction of the dam. Because of the regulated flow the discharge during lean

periods is very low during post dam period in comparison to pre dam period

which poses serious challenges to downstream areas.

Photo: 3.3: The women of Ujani Khamti village of Lakhimpur District collects

drinking water by digging small pond over the river bed of Ranganadi River

135

Rapid population growth, ruthless exploitation of green coverage and poverty are

placing the environment and human rights scenario in this region under severe

stress. In such situation, development is a key vehicle for protection and

promotion of environment by realizing human rights. But unfortunately here

some developmental activities have been followed which rather aggravate

poverty instead of its alleviation. It is an established fact that development can

take place at the cost of the environment only up to a point, beyond that point it

will be like a foolish man’s activity who is trying to cut the very branch of tree

on which he sits. The matter of conservation of environment must go hand in

hand with development because any developmental activity which destroys the

environment will create more poverty, unemployment and diseases.

Environmentally destructive development will impoverish the poor even further

and destroy their livelihood resource base and will transfer the available

resources from the poor to the rich.

The World Development Report 1992 indicates that - if the benefits from raising

income are offset by the costs imposed on health and the quality of life by

pollution, this cannot be called development. Environmental degradation can

undermine future productivity by excessive exploitation of natural resources in

the name of raising present income. The Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen rightly

136

remarked that development is an expansion of real freedom that people can enjoy

for their economic well-being, social opportunities and political rights. The focus

of development policies should precisely be the expansion of freedom or removal

of major constraints of freedom that people often face in their life due to lack of

minimum facilities, lack of power to access the natural resources, and lack of

civil and political freedoms. Implementations of any developmental project must

have to substantially contribute to the improvement of the people’s quality of life

immediately. But instead of benefits the projects stand as a major threat to the

lives and livelihoods of common people, and there has been some apprehension

that benefits from the Ranganadi Project may not be sustained over a long period,

if environmental protective measures are not taken promptly.

Environmental degradation likely to be leads to the further marginalization of

large segments of population of study area by loss of their present livelihoods, or

by new generations never being able to attain livelihoods. It is therefore, most

urgent that poverty needs to be eradicated for proper protection of the

environment to provide security of means of natural resource based livelihoods

for present and future generations. The environmental concern in this region must

go ‘beyond pretty trees’ and must link it with peoples’ lives and well-being.

Development imperatives have to take in a sustainable way that is

environmentally harmonious, ecologically justified and targeted towards equality

coupled with social justice. . Development without concern for the environment

137

is only short-term development, in the long term it will not be sustainable and

can go on only at the cost of enormous human suffering, poverty and oppression.

Sustainable development concerns in the sense of enhancement of human well-

being, in present day consensus reflects three foundational aspirations: First, that

human beings should be able to enjoy a decent quality of life; second, that

humanity should become capable of respecting the finiteness of the biosphere;

and third, that neither the aspiration for the good life, nor the recognition of

biophysical limits should preclude the search for greater justice in the world. For

this to occur there is a need for balance and harmony between economic, social

and environmental needs.

The present analysis shows that the failure of government to combat with the

situation with proper policies and strategies, failure to adopt sustainable path of

development for enhancement of human well beings, have aggravated the

environmental and human rights scenario of the district. The Economic

Deterministic Approach of environmental degradation believes that because

economic growth is required for political, social and economic stability, the

‘quality of environment’ normally assume lower priority in formulating planning

proposals and in long-term planning because the deterioration of the environment

is generally protected and socially less oblique than a deterioration in the

economy.24

While many social and economic benefits have occurred as a result

of developmental activities, the damaging costs to the environment have not been

138

fully determined, nor has any detailed scientific assessment been made to study

the capacity of seriously altered ecosystems to sustain human communities over

the long term. Environmental considerations and developmental efforts need to

go hand in hand for ensuring sustainability. The call of the hour is for an

integrated approach for establishing an atmosphere conducive to respect, promote

and protect human rights of all ensured by the constitution of the country. The

following chapter focuses on flood hazards and human rights violation in the

study area.

References:

1 District Census Handbook; Lakhimpur District: Series 3: Assam Part XIII-A

2 YOJANA, December 2011, p. 35, Yojana Bhaban, New Delhi

3 District Administration, Lakhimpur, Assam, (RSVY),

March 2004, New Delhi

4 Brown L.R., 2000, Challenges of the new century, in State of the World 2000, The

WorldWatch Institute, WW Norton & Co. New York. p.19

139

5 Gray, L.C. et.al,, 2005, A Geographical Perspective on Poverty-Environment Interactions.

The Geographical Journal 171(1) pp. 9-23.

6 Prakash, S., 1997, Poverty and Environment Linkages in Mountains and Uplands: Reflections

on the ‘Poverty Trap’ Thesis. CREED Working Paper -12

7 Adriana Fabra, The Intersection of Human Rights and Environmental Issues: A Review of

Institutional Development at International Level (Background Paper prepared for Joint

UNEP-OHCHR Expert Seminar on Human Rights and the Environment, Geneva, 14-16

January 2002.

9 Supra,note-11, p. 147.

10

World Resource Institute 1985,Tropical Forests : A Call for Action, Part I, The Plan, World Resource Institute, Washington DC.

11 Kataki T., Dams and Embankments, The Assam Tribune, July 11,2008

12

Cited in an Article Published by Boruah S. in the daily news paper Amar Asom, Dated

2nd

September 2010, p.1.

13 Chand R. et al., Regional Variations in Agricultural Productivity A District Level Study, 2009,

National Professor Project, National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research,

New Delhi, p. 31

14

Boruah D. et al., 2009 “Hydroelectric Project and Livelihoods Risk Assessment of Subansiri

River in NE India, in Seuj Chinta, The news letter of Green Heritage, Volume V No-1

August- 2009, p. 23.

15 National Agricultural Innovation Project (Component 3), Directorate of Research (Agri)

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785 013, Assam

16

The Sentinel, Dated 16th February, 2002, Assam

17

Narah BC, Cabinet Minister for Water Resources, (Government of Assam) in Assam Assembly in 16th July 2008.

18 A Report on the Flood of the Year 2007 under the Jurisdiction of the North Lakhimpur

W.R.Division, North Lakhimpur, Assam.

19

Amar Upotyaka, 3rd

addition 2010, Dhemaji, Assam

20 Ads by google, available at www. Google.com/uri

21 The Assam Tribune, November 17, 2008, Guwahati, Assam

22

Rose C.M., Joseph Sax and the idea of apaublic Trust’ (1998) 25 Ecology L.Q.351.

140

23

Redgwell C., International Trusts and Environmental Protection, OUP, Oxford 1999

p. 68.

24

Park C.C. et al., 1980 in Singh S. et al., Environmental Geography, Prayag Pustak Bhawan, Allahabad, India, p. 36.