At a time when Sarbananda Sonowal led Assam government is mulling to promote the water tourism of the state by organising river festivals like Namami Brahmaputra and Namami Barak, Son Beel—Assam’s largest wetland is crying for attention.
52-year-old Pankaj Paul, a boatman by profession and singer by passion, dreams to entertain people with songs like, ‘Yeh Chand sa Roshan Chehera’ ‘O Maajhi Re’, while riding the boat over beautiful Son Beel. The quinquagenarian believes his wish will get fulfilled someday and the concerned authority would listen to his plea and will take steps to promote Son Beel as a tourist destination.
“Since my childhood I wanted to become singer but due to lack of opportunity I ended up being a boatman. Even after becoming boatman I dream to entertain people with my songs and make their boat rides memorable,” said Paul, adding, “Even though it may take some more years from now, but I believe that one day my dream will be fulfilled.”
“Son Beel is not only the largest wetland of Assam and Northeast, but it is India’s largest wetland. If it is developed properly then it can become one of the most famous tourist destinations of the country,” he stated.
While interacting with Northeast Today, Nirmal Kanti Das, a business man and member of the Son Beel Fishermen Cooperative Society, said, “Due to utter negligence from both the previous Congress government and the present BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government, Son Beel in a way is still alien to the rest of the country.”
“In 2014, during the election campaign of Lok Sabha polls, former union minister and the current Guwahati LS MP Bijoya Chakraborty assured to develop Son Beel. Even during the last Assam assembly elections, the current state tourism minister Himanta Biswa Sarma promised for a special package.
Unfortunately till date nothing has been done in this regard,” he informed.
This story is from the November 2017 edition of Northeast Today.
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This story is from the November 2017 edition of Northeast Today.
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