Aaliya bet

Comments

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  Nitin Bhatt (guest)

  This is not Alia bet, It is Dashan Bet...It was a small bet before 1980s..But in 90s..It is become larger every year and now is spreading over 10 kms. Alia bet is 6-7 km away from western end of Dasan Bet. Alia bet is very very old and now it is joined with land from Honsot Town end.. south stream of Narmada ( Which was between Hansot town and Alia bet) is not live and not more perennial.

  12 years ago | reply | hide comment
• 
  sgbhagwat

  Aliya Bet Aliya Bet is the delta of the Narmada river and is the habitat of nomadic Tribe JAT MALDHARI. This delta area disappeared and became saline wasteland due to ecological and geological changes in last 20 years. This area was lush green with the grass called "AAL," there were almost 5000 camels in 1970 CE. dependent upon the vegetation. However, change in the area has affected the camels & now there are only 600 in total remaining on Aliya Bet. There are forest reserves in this area without any trees, with only Babul trees found in some parts. Additional Information: Another interesting ecological variation of grasslands are the ‘bets’. Small natural grass islands in the Rann or near the sea, bets have been another source of fodder and water for the maldharis of Gujarat. Geologically, these bets are small silt depositions brought by a nearby river either in the Rann or the sea. Unlike Banni, these smaller bets are truly forgotten resources. Maldharis and other coastal communities have traditionally used them for livelihood. Whether it is the local short stories on pastoral lives, the official report of 1965, or our discussions in 2003 with the older pastoralists of Saurashtra or Kutch – a reference to Aaliya bet is common. They say ‘it is like the mother’ who never refuses shelter to the tired pastoralists. Even when everything dries up, Aaliya bet does not. Spread over an area of about 200 sq km, Aaliya bet is located about 25 km west of Bharuch. Any reasonable size map of Gujarat will show a pear shaped independent land mass in the sea near Bharuch. This is Aaliya bet, formed over thousands of years by the silt of the Narmada and other rivers, along with the salinity of the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea. It is naturally suited for a variety of grasses. Aaliya comes from ‘aal’, the main grass found on this island. Living on Aaliya bet is not easy. Till recent times it was not connected to land. Livestock had to be carried to the bet in boats. A few years back, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India raised an embankment for oil exploration. Though the project was abandoned due to unavailability, it left behind a kutcha road, which became the first connection from Aaliya bet to the mainland. Other than pitching a tent, it is not possible to build any structure here, not even a hut. The land is frequently inundated with water during the monsoon and often the maldharis do not even get an opportunity to dry themselves for days. On every full moon the island gets inundated with water. Though fodder was available throughout the year, potable water remained a problem. The sweet water flow of rivers during the monsoon served to keep the saline sea water out. This natural balance made sub-surface potable water available at shallow depths for a longer duration. After the monsoon, saline seawater ingress made water in the island non-potable. The government attempted to drill bore wells and grow trees but met with little success. Over the years, grasses have reduced. The sweet water flow from the Narmada has declined due to the dam such that even during the monsoon there is no potable water. The Maldharis now abandon Aaliya bet before Diwali, sometime in October. There is a visible deterioration in fodder quality and productivity. Land and water have become more saline due to sea ingression. Fakirani Jat pastoralists living on this bet for more than a century are constantly threatened and harassed by the local authorities in an effort to move them out. Category: island, community, bet, jat, tribe Permalink to this place

  12 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Dr.NimeshNimesh (guest)

  Very near city is hansot all kind of deal done with hansot

  9 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Shamim (guest)

  Excellent Info sir..

  8 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Irfan (guest)

  I visited the place recently the locals known as litchis are really facing hardship due to portable water and no help from government as they want them vacated due to politics.

  8 years ago | reply | hide comment