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 Environment   

Harike Wetland Conservation Mission

On 9th July 1998, the Chief Minister of the State of Punjab ordered the constitution of the Harike Wetland Conservation Mission, with the following objectives:

1. To prepare a masterplan for the integrated conservation and development of the Harike wetland;

2. To undertake specific projects and programmes for the conservation of the ecosystem of the Harike region;

3. To regulate, screen and monitor all development activities which have a bearing on the Harike wetland ecosystem;

4. To evaluate all plans and proposals of all departments of the Government which concern the future of Harike.

Meetings will be chaired by the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab. The Department of Forests and Wildlife Conservation will be the Mission's Administrative Department.

The official members of the Mission are:

1. Financial Commissioner Forests

2. Principal Secretary Environment

3. Principal Secretary Irrigation

4. Principal Secretary Finance

The non-official members of the Mission are:

1. Dr Asad Rahmani (Director, Bombay Natural History Society)

2. B.C. Choudhury (Senior Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India)

3. Bikram Grewal (Member Wildlife Advisory Board, Government of Punjab, & Oriental Bird Club)

4. Belinda Wright (Member Wildlife Advisory Board, Government of Punjab, & Exec.Dir. Wildlife Protection Society of India)

 

For those of you who are not familiar with Harike, here is a brief background of its history:

Harike is the largest wetland in northern India. It is a vital staging post and the winter home of a enormous concentration of migratory waterfowl that rivals only Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur. A number of globally threatened species have also been recorded in Harike.

Situated 55 km south of the city of Amritsar, the shallow reservoir was created in 1953 by the construction of a barrage at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. Harike lake was declared a 41 sq km wildlife santuary in 1982. Considered a wetland of international importance, it was included in the List of Ramsar sites in 1990. The sanctuary area was enlarged in 1992 to 86 sq km. From 1980-1985, the Bombay Natural History Society carried out research and a bird ringing programme there. Harike was also the subject of a 1994 publication by WWF-India as part of their series on Ramsar Sites of India.

Like many wetlands in India, Harike is beset with problems. These include silting and shrinking of the water body, water hyacinth infestation, encroachment, fishing, plantations, water pollution, and grazing.

The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Prakash Singh Badal, has shown an exceptional and welcome interest in wildlife. By constituting the Harike Wetland Conservation Mission, he hopes to safeguard the future of this rich wetland. To begin with, the Mission has been asked to review all existing management and action plans and submit a comprehensive report within one month.

Any inputs would be very welcome.

Belinda Wright
Email: blue@nda.vsnl.net.in