SOCIETY FOR CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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SOCIETY FOR CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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Amphibia- an NGO for Scientific and Industrial Research Head office: c/o Ratna Pariksha, S C Goswami Road, Panbazar, Guwahati 781001, Guwahati, Assam, INDIA Office for project planning and coordination: Zoo Narangi Bye Lane 2, Harish Chandra Goswami Path, House No.3 Bhaskar Nagar, Guwahati 781014, Assam, India Tel: 90-0361-2412393 E mail: pabitrasarma@yahoomail.com Website: www.geocities.com/chemicalsociety-AMPHIBIA Objectives: AMPHIBIA is registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 in the year 2002. The aims and objectives of AMPHIBIA are 1To promote and advance the cause of science and industry. 2. To promote and run a new education system based on science and technology. 3. To disseminate scientific knowledge by holding symposium, seminars and discussions on original work and on scientific matters of public interest. 4. To popularize science through media and information technology. As basic research of the kind achieved in advanced
countries cannot be realized in India and Assam being far far below the Indian
standards in science teaching in primary and secondary levels, AMPHIBIA will
resort to need based science and technology appropriate to local area planning
and development. It will also make innovative methodology of teaching by
publication of books for teaching science to the students and the parents alike.
In fact, a book on Chemistry in the Kitchen is being written and published in
2006 in Assamese medium. The house wives will learn the chemistry involved in
the kitchen and household with the help of this book. When mothers learn
chemistry wards will be motivated to learn chemistry in the kitchen to start
with. Subsequently an English version will be published after necessary
modifications from inputs of learners. 1.Advisors- Dr.Kulendu Pathak, 2.Vice Chancellor, Dibrugarh University 5.Prof.Chandan Mahanta, IIT, Guwahati 7.Dr.Jayanta Laskar, 8.Dr.B.P.Duorah, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Gauhati University
Treasurer: Debajit Goswami Coordinators : Amit Das,
Maligaon and Jyotish Sarma., Madan Kamdev. ACTIVITIES through coordinator at Madan Kamdev floor reservoir to be pumped to top tank for supply line connection Drawing plan of the building must include the drawings/ structures for rainwater harvesting for permission. Provided further that such rainwater harvesting may also be built during construction of the building in cases of apartments institutional, administrative or similar buildings including individual residences of all types. 20% of built up area may have rainwater tank space. (ii) Provision for renewable energy to the extent of 10% of total electricity to be consumed must be from solar energy, biomass, biofuel etc.. To cope with energy shortage this is in conformity with energy policy of Ministry f Renewable Energy Sources, Govt. of India. (iii) All apartments must provide 20% space for greeneries , flower gardens, tub gardening etc. , plantation of neem trees or other shrubs for beautification and fresh air ie. environmental safety for air pollution and fresh air availability. Neem trees (azadiracta indica) purifies air and is antimalarial). 66. Protected Areas: The following areas of Guwahati Metropolitan area to be earmarked by the competent authority by notification from time to time if already not modified in the Master Plan should be excluded for permission of multi storied building.: (i) Heritage zones consisting of pilgrimage and worship like Satra, Namghar, Devalaya, Mandir, Maszid, Dargah, Gurudwara, Church and sites of historical and cultural importance. (ii) Areas falling under natural drainage channels, area falling or butting wetlands. (iii) areas earmarked for infrastructure for civic amenities in the Master plan and Zoning regulation for Guwahati. (iV) Sites on hills and foothills requiring excavation likely to cause soil erosion and environmental pollution. All walls must be built leaving 5 feet margin from the road used by commuters, residents etc. (v) Sites below overhanging embedded rocks. In this regard foothills of Sarania, Kamakhya, Narakasur hills, Mada Kamdev hill areas etc. i.e. most vulnerable areas must be excluded Government land on the hills and in the water bodies. No earth cutting and blasting with dynamites and explosives using detonators are permissible. (v) The notified forest land under Guwahati Master plan area. (vi) Areas between the river Brahmaputra and main road to Rajbhaban from Kamakhya hill. (ix) Zones of biodiversity and medicinal plants at hills and plains of Guwahati Master plan area.
From the last years compilation of data AMPHIBIA submitted a paper on 2nd International Conference on Brahmaputra Civilization held at Baladmari, Goalpara,Assam, India from 28 January to 30 January,2005 0n Madan Kamdev- History Unrevealed -A Site For Tourist Attraction. On 3rd July it has relesed a tourist guide book on Madan Kamdev- a new approach based on legend, tradition and archaeological findings hither to undertaken. MADAN KAMDEV:A Tourist Guide Madan Kamdev Hill on National Highway 52 is a site where 24 ruined temples are exposed. Dr.Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India released Rs 30 lakhs from M.P. fund wh en he was M.P. of Rajya Sabha from Assam in 1993. With
that liberal grant a museum was constructed where about 88 exhibits collected
from the ruined sites are preserved with inscriptions and period of
construction. The period of constructions of the temples was 11-12th century
just prior to modern period of Assam before Ahom ruled.. But unfortunately no
excavations have been undertaken till now by Department of Archaeology, Assam
nor Archaeology Department, Govt. of India, New Delhi. In 1977 and 2980
department of Archaeology, Govt. of Assam undertook only expositions of the
ruins and collections of the ruined portions For a long period of 25 years no
exposition was even planned for unearthing the unrevealed history of Madan
Kamdev. Umamaheswar on alingasana as the main deity is worshipped daily by devotees. But there is no idol of Madan and Rati in the temple.The expositions revealed a score of images with a few structural components . The outer parts of the sikhara of the temples were found among the ruins. The images consisted of Surya, Ganas, Vidyadharas etc. The structural components consist of parts of niches , cruciform pillar capitals and also decorative objects and molded blocks. Location of Madan Kamdev At a distance of 40 Km from Guwahati we reach Baihata Chariali proceeding by by NH 37. From there turning right and moving 1 Km by NH 52 towards Chipajhar, we reach the entrance gate to Madan Kamdev visible on looking to left. Recently two prominent sign boards on NH 52 indicate arrival of the diversion road to the hill. From there crossing 4 Km by a bumpy graveled road we reach Madan Kamdev hill on right hand side. At first on the entry point we find the Water Pump inaugurated by former MP Bijoya Chakrabarty with 10,000 litre capacity - practically unused after installation in 2001. Before reaching Madan Kamdev Parvat, Narasinha Hill comes to sight on right side of approach. On riding the entrance steps crossing the steel gate to Madan Parvat, a panoramic view of the surrounding hills on both sides with natural beauty attracts the eyes of the visitors. By the left of the entrance we get the museum built by generous funding by Prime Minister of India Dr.Manomohan Singh when he was Rajya Sabha MP from Assam earlier in 1993. His subsequent funding for the library. the restaurant and beatification have not been properly utilized to complete the buildings as proposed. The tourism department of Assam is now renovating the site for tourists giving the restaurant in contract to Sri Jyotish Sarma for management on yearly basis of rental. The restaurant is so outdated that foreigners will not appreciate the tourism department for arranging to bring them for refreshment here. When we turn right a few flower and temple lamp vendors approach the visitors for sale of offerings for worship to the deity of Uma Maheswar uphill. Down hill is the Assam Bio Resource Centre developed by Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council which maintain 16 verities of bamboos, 2 varieties of canes, 99 varieties of medicinal plants and 95 varieties of trees and plants. There are green houses with orchidarium, poly house with cactus herbarium and museum with 3500 herbarium specimens and 200 bottle specimens yet to be developed. There is a nursery for selected seedlings also. A library of 1500 books on biological sciences and five reference journals are subscribed by Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council and are kept at Silpukhuri, the head office. The area enclosed for the Bioresource Centre is 5 acres with boundary fencing. The total area of Madan Kamdev is 5 lakh sq.metres Museum for exibits Although the deity uma maheswara is worshipped regularly, the visitors go there mainly for picnic in winter months considering it as a picnic spot. In fact in 1st January, an annual gathering of large visitors crowd the hill. Through the initiative of the Govertment of Assam some foreign tourists visit the site in each year though meager in number. The museum with 88 exhibits is yet to be identified fully. They are presented below: 1. Sun 12 2. Gana 4 3. Nataraj-1 4. Saraswati-1 5. Lakshmi-1 6. Aditya-1 7. Kirtimukh-1 8. Human figure-2 9. Dancing male -2 10. Unidentified male-10 11. Unidentified female –3 12.Panel base – 13.Maithun-2 14. Amlaka-1
Total 125 structures in broken pieces as shown above are put inside the museum in 2 corridors and 5 rooms of different areas. Besides structures put in museum some above the hill top near the deity of uma maheswar. The idol is protected by a dilapidated CI sheet roofing. There are two exposed sites where some bases of temples 24 in number and scattered ruins of top structures make the visitors wonder how neglected the Government of Assam is to put a historical unexplored site which could have been investigated as a heritage site of pride and prosperity of ancient Assam- Kamrupa/Pragjyotishpur. Familiar places around Madan Kamdev Parvat To the visitors the Madan Kamdev Hill and its surrounding hills and plains appear as a place of peace and tranquility. There is a lake visited by seasonal migratory birds with regular local ones. The monkeys. the tiger, wild boars, python etc also inhabit the place on isolated hilly areas and jungles in the plain. But Madan Kamdev is yet to be historically placed in proper perspectives. The antiquities scattered in and around the deity are manifestations of a glorious period of history yet to be revealed. Madan Kamdev is practically a hilly enclave where once a group of skilled and gifted craftsmen were busy in construction of stone architecture in granites and other types. Temple Architecture at Madan Kamdev Madan Kamdev temple site saw several erotic sculptures modeled in all conceivable erotic poses. The evidences unearthed till now is a pointer to tanrtic culture for which ancient Kamrupa was famous. Is it a centre for Buddhism? Further research based on scientific path must be supported by the State Govt. through the department of archeology to put Madan Kamdev on its proper historical place. Uma Maheswara –the large composite image in alingasana -s with all the 18 temples found need special attention of historians, archaeologists and intellectual community in particular of Assam to make wide publicity of the impact of this site in making a 300 years period of history of Assam to be authentically depicted. It is to be ascertained whether the images and damaged parts actually were of 11 th cectury A.D. or of earlier/late period.
MadanKamdev or Madan/Kamdev:
Madan and Kamdev is the name of the same mythological hero of love. The name given to the deity Madan Kamdev might have been done latter by some priests to make his livelihood by attracting devotees of surrounding villages. But the images found as collected in the museum do not indicate it as a place for worship of Hara Gauri or Uma Maheswar. The deity is no doubt Siva embracing Uma with left hand (alingasana). But the number of images placed in the museum are more of Sun god numbering 12. Only one Nataraj and one Uma is not sufficient to establish that it is a temple of Siva worship. The priests recite mantra for vishnu worship.
Madan and Rati are part of Hindu way of life on male and nature ( purush and prakriti).
Ruins At Madan Kamdev hill: The statues and ruins of Madan Kamdev are 11-12 century old as claimed by archaeologists. At Madan Kamdev hills ruins of temples 24 in number are found. The basement of a temple is intact. Other remains include carved slabs of stone, fragments of stone pillars and their bases and chiseled stone block of walls The carvings on these architectural pieces include amorous figures of animal and floral patterns.
Statue of Madan at Sibsagar:
Only one statue of Madan was discovered in Sibsagar district and is exhibited in Assam State Museum. The statue of Kamdev collected from Sivsagar represents according to some scholars , the god Kamdeva. The statue stands in dvibhanga attitude on a lotus against the background of a pillar. He has two hands. With one he holds an arrow . With the right hand around the tip he holds arrow as if to examine its sharpness. A long bow is hung from his left shoulder. The absence of Rati and Priti are noteworthy. Bow and arrow hold by the statue are of ordinary kind not of flowers in any way.
Mythology of Madan and Rati:
The story of mythological hero of love and emotions- Madan is described in several Puranas written by many sages from 7th to 10th century. Mention of erotic love is found in Rigveda- the ancient book on Hinduism. It was conversation between Lopamudra and her husband where erotic love was mentioned. Most detailed description is however narrated in Kalika Purana composed in Assam. Markandeya is the sage who narrates the contents of Kalika Purana to the disciples. There is Markandeya Ashranm in Dirgeswari at North Guwahati, Kamrup district, Assam, India where it is claimed the sage compiled the introduction to Markandeya Purana. A statute of Markandeya is found in stone.
Creation of Madan and Rati:
In Kalika Purana the creation of Madan and Rati are described as follows: Madan and Rati were created by Brahma. Brahma, the creator created the living beings by grace. Brahma created the sages -the ten mind borns- Marichi, Atri, Pulaha, Angirash, Krtu, Pulastya, Vasistha, Narada, Pracesta and Bhrigu. The one more born from his mind was a female so beautiful and charming that her description arouses erotic feelings. No women in the heaven and in the earth nowhere in the world is equal to her. She with a tuft of heavy black hair shines like the peacock in the rainy season. Her eyebrow looked like a sesame flower. Her pair of blue eyes is like blossoming blue lotus. Her two fine shaped feet are as red as ground lotus. Her beautiful fingers resemble the arrows of cupid. She was named Sandhya.
When Brahma was pondering what to do with the female – the charming lady, a handsome male suddenly came out of from his mind. He was named Kama. His body was light yellow like hue of gold dust with wide chest. He has a well formed nose. His thighs, bottom arms and buttock are knit together. His face resembled the full moon. He was tall. Covered with thick hair his arms were thickened and round like fully blossomed flowers. The smell emitted from his body had the fragrance of bakula flower. He had a slime body and fine teeth. His throat with three horizontal lines looked beautiful. His flag is decorated with a fish, a makara for his mount. Being equipped with a flowery bow and five arrows he is superb at arousing love and emotions. Five arrows are- mohana, harshana, rochana, sosana and ma’rana. He also have five names- Kamdev, Manobhab, Madan, Kandarpa and Darpaka. Madan was blessed with power to make people including gods even Brahma, Bishnu and Siva to be blind with erotic love. His glance cast at any one will make him mad in love. Probably he is supplied with phenyl ethyl amine and neurotransmitters like pheromone, oxytocin and vasopressin. Brahma and the other sages assigned him duties to make all people fall prey to his arrows of flowery love. All gods including Brahma, Vishnu and Siva will fall prey to his arrows and glance- Brahma told Kamdeva. Kama acquiring power of love wanted to taste his ability to those who assigned him the power. He sent his flowery arrows by his bow ( pushpadhanu) to the creator and all the ten mind born taking Sandhya as the attractor. Brahma, sages and the mindborns became highly enamoured of Sandhya. They put casting glances at her with erotic desire. When Brahma looked at Sandhya with her carnal desire there arose 49 bhabas (Emotions) bibhokas (erotic indifference), h’avas (lila) and other gesture of emotions. From Sandhya’s emotions 64 arts are evolved.
At that time Siva while moving in sky above saw Brhma emotionally involved for his own creation. Siva rebuked Brahma particularly for his unbecoming behaviour and cursed Madan for his role in arousing emotions in him. Brahma then came to his sense and became ashamed. a damsel. Marici and others could control their emotions even though Kamdev threw arrows on them also. Brahma feeling humiliated by Siva wanted to make Madan victim for his misdeed. Being furious Brahma cursed Madan to be reduced to ashes by the fiery glance of Siva if he applies his arrow to Maheswar. Madan heard the curse and appealed to Brahma to withdraw it as it was he who assigned this duty for human creation to Madan. Madan claimed he was innocent. Brhama relaxed the punishment by telling him that he would be reborn by blessings of Siva. From the perspiration of Daksha who was also born of Brahma falling on ground became a damsel.Damsel born of Daksha was Rati. Rati was kept together with Madan for supporting him in his mission of make people fall in love.
Siva Parvati Episode:
In order to kill Taraka,Mahamaya was born as Parvati with Daksha as father and Menaka as mother. Siva will have to marry Parvati so as to give birth to Kartikeya who would kill Tarakasur. Mahadev has no love nor attraction for women. So Madan was entrusted by Indra to arouse love to Parvati on Siva. He did and Siva when he came to know of it after slight feeling of erotic arousal became furious and reduced Madan to ashes. Indra did not allow Madan’s soul to be annihilated.
How Madan was united to Rati is given different versions in different Puranas. It is surmised that Madan had to undergo penance at Madan Kamdev Parvat to unite with Rati. Mahadeva kept a strict vigil on how he underwent penance. Siva left Parvati at Parvati Guha at Gopeswar hill - visible on NH 37 at 20 Km point from Jalukbari police outpost. Gopeswar hill is towards southwest of Madan Kamdev Hill. Siva came out through a tunnel from Parvati guha from Gopeswar temple to inspect Madan on his worship. In fact a guha with a tunnel linking to Madan Kamdev parvat is found at Gopeswar hill about 100 metres away from the temple of Gopeswar. Recently a Narasinha statue cut on a huge stone was found upside down inside a cave at Narasinha hill. Investigation to fix the time of tilting is yet to be completed as the facility is lacking in Assam.
Archaelogical Expositions:
Exposition of Madan Kamdev Parvat initially was began in 1977 by the department of Archaeology, Govt.of Assam. Clearing of jungles exposed the sanctum santorum with Uma Maheswara idol. Subsequent exposition in1981 including the earlier one revealed lots of images and ruins as put in the museum and outside exposed. So far no excavations are undertaken by the department of archaeology for giving clue to the history behind such huge number of temples in one place. Madan Kamdev parvat was visited by T.Sarma, a school teacher of Baihata Chariali in 1943. He identified 13 temples. There were in fact 18 temples in Madan Kamdev identified out of 24 on hill top. Only one tenth of the site is exposed. There are more than twenty temples there it is claimed. There are lots of stone images, decorated stone slabs on exposed area. More than 200 images of gods and godesses were unearthed . Some of them are more than 1.5 metres in height. Nataraj, Chaturbhuj, Sivba, Bishnu, Uma, Ganesh, Apsara are found.This area appears to be one of the busiest centres of architectural activities at a time for which historial evidences are to searched.. During Pala dynasty the temples were built if the period of the statues are taken as between 11th and 12th century. But because of no record the purpose behind the temple construction activities is shrouded in mystery.
The temple of Madan Kamdev is an old sanctum. The cella of the sanctum with door way having an elongated passage is 1.57 meters wide. Square cella is 3.14 metres. The massive stone block at the entrance is 2.61 metres x 94 cms x 51 cms in size. The door sill is divided into 5 panels. The solid ceiling slab of the temple , beautifully carved with a viswapadma is lying on the temple ruins. The beki of the temple is in a half circular in 3.4 meters diameter having decorative beam designed in steps of concentric rings. A few wedge shaped stone blocks on being reassembled appeared as amlaka with its inner radius.
Geographical Boundaries
On the northern side of Saraighat bridge there are a range of hills on the eastern side of National Highway 37 as we proceed to Baihata Chariali.The boundary may be considered as Barnadi on east, areas by the side of NH 52 on north, Brahmaputra river on south and Baihata Chariali on north west is the range known as Mandakata Hills. On the southweat taking Momaikata garh as barrier there are places like Deuduar, Ghumrukoth, Chutiapara {Madanpur), Rangmahal, Saraighat, Rajaduar, Bahgarh, Mandakata etc which bears historical importance. There are site of Tirtha like Gopeswar, Aswaklanta, Manikarneswar, Dirgheswari, Pingaleswar, Dipteswari and recently found Bhairabeswar dewalaya. Madan Kamdev Parvat is surrounded by these areas. A temple broken at middle claimed to be Uma Maheswar is frequented by devotees of the surrounding localities..
Madan in near by sites
The granite paneled sacred cave where joni( vagina) of Sati was placed is known as Manobhab Guha at Nilachal Kamakhya main garbha griha as highlighted by Dr.Pranab Jyoti Deka- a geolist of repute in his recent monograph...Madan is also Manobhaba. The placement of goddess Kamakhya in Manobhab Guha implies that the cult of Madan was prevalent prior to Madan Kamdev at Madangiri. The Kamakhya temple was constructed at 10th century where as Madan Kamdev temples were built on 11th century as claimed by archaeologists. There are lots of mystry on assumptions made by Dr,Deka. According him the bottom part of Kamakhya temple in Nilachala hill which houses the ‘Yoni Pitha’ was constructed in 1st century.The middle part is constructed in the fifth century and the temple was reroofed in the 16th century. But cult of Kamkhya Kameswari came into being in 10-11th century . To the primitive people , there must have been a resident spirit inhabiting the grotto and water fountain (Manobhab Guha). There are at present five domes in Kamakhya. The largest dome is on the top of garbha Griha, the Manobhab Guha. Further studies on Mada will be put on website from time to time.
Role of AMPHIBIA: AMPHIBIA- the NGO for scientific and industrial research has undertaken research and survey at Madan Kamdev with surrounding temples in this part of Assam under a project- Ecotourism, Water Management and Community Development at Madan Kamdev for last two years. An NGO with meager resource will not be in a position to complete such a massive plan to its fruition of desired objective of putting Assam in the tourist map world wide. We expect assistance from various sources. Water Management, Ecotourism and Community Development at MAdan Kamdev The project outline Citizens all over the world have to face the challenges of population growth.Water is a scarce resorce now effecting 120 crores of people. In Assam although rainy season causes floods from the Brahmaputra and the Barak and their tributaries, the duration may be maximum for months a year. The rest of the time there is drought. Irrigation facility is minimal. Besides water another area of concern effecting not only human beimgs but all living organism is environmental degradation and deforestation leading to global warming for affluent life style with increasing hydrocarbon consumption. The global problem must not effect our local habitations with traditional life style. On the other hand ever-increasing unemployed youth need security of livelihood. Tourism is one area if properly planned will reduce unemployment significantly. In Assam there are lots of scope for tourism development wihout visible impact on environmental degradation. Tourism cannot be profitably developed without involving NGO's and private management along with Government. The department of tourism, Assam should rise to the occasion to select sites and develop them for attracting tourists. Madan Kamdev Hill and its surroundings is an exceptionally suitable site for ecotourism. As wter is scarce in this hilly area water management needs utmost attention of Government of Assam along with community development to make better livelihood for the local inhabitants living a meagre life style. AMPHIBiA has undertaken survey of the Madan Kamdev and surrounding localities for tourism development under the following project outline. In order to explore Madan Kamdev for ecotourism a plan is outlined below:-
1. Construction of security fencing 2. Scientific excavation at the site of Diwangiri for finding copper plates 3. Collection of museum ruins and statues taken away by people 4. Development of a mini zoo/ deer park 5. Children park and biotechnology park 6. Widening and construction of permanent road from NH 52 to Madan Kamdev Site ( nearly 4 Km.) to make it motorable without bumping. 7. Water reservoir by digging the rivulet Srotasi (now dead) through rainwater harvesting 8. Fruit tree plantation for monkeys 9. Social forestry to preserve natural beauty and stop stone blasting by unscrupulous traders for gravel. 10. Social forestry and development of the botanical garden maintained by ASTEC for alterative medicine from medicinal plants. 11. Terracotta and Potteries development for livelihood improvement of tribes and villagers 12. Rope way,cable car, mono rail facility. 13. Parking area development 14. Energy park for renewable energy 15. Community development 16. Rowing on lakes to be developed as canal on the already existing rivulet having In Srotasi river lots of mud accumulated which on clearing and making a canal of 1.5 deep the rainwater can be preserved. In future the link of the canal to a river source from Puthimari area may be examined.For2 metres of silt filled water. Rainwater reservoir will have to be be designed for the canal. Community development schemes 1. for the poor villagers living in the neighbouring villages encouraging eastblishment of self help group.Survey of the communities need to be undertaken
2. Rock garden
It may be possible to add some more areas in future. The department of Tourism in consultation with the concerned ministry and related departments may make a master plan with estimates for financial aids from International agencies.
To make this beautiful travel site for ecotourism private hotels may be allowed to be built on NH 52 near approach to Madan Kamdev on Baihata Chariali with three/ five star facility. Tour programmes should include Dirgheswari, Gupteswar, Pingaleswar etc. and other temples and institutions. A cultural centre and village life projection may be undertaken as in Ooty, Tamilnadu. For this a Tribal Research Centre may be initiated. Also a tribal village may be built for tourists’ research and investigation world wide. Auroville is being built by visualization of Rishi Aravinda. Let us try to make a second Auroville in Madan Kamdev area. RAIN WATER HARVESTING World Water Decade began from 23 March, 2005- on the Worls Water Day. At least 50% of the deprived population should be provided with safe drinking water during this decade as announced by United Nations. But unfortunately the available fresh water in Assam are polluted now because of pesticides, chemical fertilizers in ponds, rivers, tributaries, wells and ground water . Assam Urban Supply and Sewarage board has not been able to provide sufficient water to the people of Guwahati. Guwahati Municipal Corporation also has not expanded water supply facilities to many areas. Majority of the people do not bother at Guwahati and Assam for quality of water. It is because of this people suffer from water borne diseases which is preventable if safe drinking water is consumed by the people. Rainwater is provided plenty through hydrological cycle. This is the primary source of water in rainfed areas. Assam is gifted with abundant rainwate. Pre monsoon and monsoon rains from March April every year. to September October is available in all regions of Assam. If rainfall is normal rainwater falls in 1000sft rooftop to the extent of 2 lacs 50 thousand litres per annum. The problem is to acquire sufficient storage space well protected from air and sunshine. Rainwater can be collected in reservoirs after filtration of layers of stone,sand and coke- the traditional method of purification. Rainwater is transparent and for drinking purpose it can be boiled. In many areas it will be pure as no other impurities except dust particles will be present. Average annual rainfall in India is 1170mm. In Assam it is m,uch higher. At Guwahati average annual rainfall is 2500mm. where as in Cherrapunji of Megalaya it is 11,000 mm. If not stored most of rainwater evaporates or goes down drain or underground. Rainwater harvesting is not new the three North Eastern States. Mehalaya, Mizoram and Manipur reserve rainwater traditionally for more than 200 years now. Rooftop rasinwater harvesting At present Guwahati gets water supply from Gauhati Municipal Corporation and Guwahati Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board. But the water supply is not adequate. Only 70% of the citizens get water through these two channels. Of late Brahmajal at exorbitant price is supplied by a private farm. It has become popular and more than 2 lac litres of water is supplied from this source from the river Brahmaputra near Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok. Because of construction activities of different types including accommodation for residents, ofiices, educational institutions etc every day the area under rainfall is diminishing at Guwahati and other towns of Assam. Wells, ponds, tube wells, bore wells are used by different sections of community on individual efforts except in buildings built by developers. The bore wells if exceeds the number sufficiently will deprive people from getting water as underground reserve of water gets depleted on pumping out. Recharge may partially restore some under ground reservoirs but not to the full. Another problem of bore well is contamination with fluoride and arsenic in several areas of Assam including Guwahati. From all these considerations rainwater after filtration is the only source of safe drinking water. AMPHIBIA has initated rainwater harvesting by constucting models from 2002 at Kamakhya near the visitors room on CI sheet roofing, Regional Science Centre, Khanapara on top floor of high rise building and Sankardev Kalkshetra ,Panjabari, Guwahati at rooftop on reinforced top from where water coming out through discharge pipe is collected at reservoirs of 2000 liters capacity after filtration through sand and stone. However to ensure safety the water so collected should be boiled for 20 minutes and cooled before using for drinking purposes. These three models have attracted visitors and some of them have built big reservoirs for domestic use. A 20,000 litre underground tank of 15"x6'x6' is built at Mrs.Manika Sarma's esidential plot at Bhaskar Nagar, Zoo Narangi Bye lane 2, Guwahati in 2004 and completed in March, 22. From then on rainwatnually when the stock becomes empty till the next rain. More than 1.50,000 litre annually are used from this reservoir. The Department of Science and Technology. Govt. of India prepared CD on these models of rainwater harvesting at Guwahati. Becuse of awareness generated by AMPJIBIA several residences have constructed reservoirs for rainwater harvesting or connected rainwater from rooftop to the reservoir meant for City water supply as a stand by. WORLD WATER DECADE 2005-2015. United Nations World Water Decade started from March23, 2005. By 2015 at least 50% percent of people all over the world who are not getting safe drinking water at all will be covered by different Countries of the world. India is also committed to ensure water supply to all in cities and remote areas. AMPHIA appeals to all citizens to resort to rainwater harvesting to mitigate water shortage. |