The land use pattern of the area in the vicinity of Khablir Beel, Bilkanda, Mahispota and Bodai as seen from Survey of India Topo Sheet 79 B/6 (surveyed in 1958–59 and published in 1973), is predominantly piscicultural and agricultural. The Khardah Khal with its connection to river Hugli (Ganga) is the main source of surface water to this area. Again a Topographical Map prepared by Panihati Municipality vide No.999/PM/0024 also corroborate the above canal system. The presence of this canal system also maintains the perennial wetland nature of these areas preserving its ecosystem.
The above also supplements National Report of India for COP7, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands vide Article No. 2.8 which reads as follows:
"Most of the wetlands in India are directly or indirectly associated with river systems. Ganga flood plain wetlands system constitutes the largest wetland regime in the country. For improving the water quality of this river system, Ganga Action Plan was initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1985 under which a comprehensive programme has been developed for pollution abatement of the river and water quality monitoring.
The methodology for water quality monitoring has been developed for four major components namely surface water quality, sediment characteristics, drain/outfall effluent quality and sewage treatment plant performance to control pollution. These components cover measurement of water quality of the river, long term changes in the river ecosystem and efficacy of the reduction of pollution load into the river from point sources through the implementation of the pollution abatement schemes."
It will also be evident in the Drawing of Irrigation Department, Government of West Bengal vide Map No. UD-1/87 that Bilkanda, Mahispota and Bodai Bils are situated in the locality of Panihati Municipality and Barrackpore – II Panchayat Samity under Bilkanda – I Gram Panchayat. Large stretches of the Beels have already been filled up by reckless dumping of fly ash generated in Titagarh Thermal Power Station (TTPS) of CESC Limited and industries have been set up on the reclaimed land.
If the filled up areas of the Bils are not restored to original condition the entire area of Panihati Municipality and Bilkanda Gram Panchayat will be inundated in a short rainfall thus creating severe ecological disaster of vast areas of adjoining civic bodies such as Kamarhati, Panihati, Khardah Municipalities and also Bilkanda – I Gram Panchayat. In fact this apprehension has proved to be a reality during the monsoons in recent years.
The attached document gives detailed information about the beels, the threats posed to them and some significant rulings of the High Court on the matter
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