Assam - Ministry of Environment and Forests

9.2 Dhir BeelNameLocationAreaWetland TypeDescriptionCurrent StatusDhir Beel26° 16’ 55” N, 90°21’ 10”EDistrict : DhubriOwnership : State (Fisheries Department)1003 haLakes/pondsDhir beel is situated 30 km from Kokrajhar town at the base of Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary.During the rainy season, this wetland gets connected with the Brahmaputra river through a smallriver called Dhir River. The wetland is rich in aquatic flora and fauna and is a breeding ground forfish.Adjacent to Dhir, there is another Lake- Diplai. These twin lakes attract a lot migratory birds inwinter including Near Threatened Ferruginous Duck and the Vulnerable Baer’s Pochard Aythyabaeri. Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis (Lahkar 2003) was common in the area till the lateeighties, but due to destruction of habitat in the form of agriculture, settlements,and over hunting ithas been wiped out graduallyUnregulated fishing and poaching are the major threats.One can observe the shallowness and drying status of the lake even in post monsoon. Aquaticweed like water hyacinth is not observed. However, encroachment for agriculture is observed.Plate 7: Dhir Beel134