A moment of great satisfaction for bird lovers and environmentalists that Gharana Wetland Reserve situated along the International Border in R.S. Pura tehsil of Jammu is on the anvil of getting back its original area. Nearly over 415 kanals of land, the acquisition proceedings of which have reached penultimate stage, originally comprised its major part. This area was now scheduled to be annexed with the wetland. Whether water bodies or wetlands, encroachments and drying up areas were causing their fast shrinking which was quite necessary to be reversed. Things reach such a pass in respect of neglect to preserve such wetland resources that only after filing of a PIL and seeking intervention of courts, restoration and preservation process gets a serious attention from the authorities.
In the instant case, a PIL was filed in the High Court in respect of restoration of the pristine glory of Gharana Wetland Reserve and in December 2017, it issued directions for acquisition of land so that its original area was restored to it. The large chunk of this water body, an abode of unimaginable number of bird species from different parts of the world especially Siberia, was converted into agricultural land, a handiwork of a well knit design and connivance from the concerned officers who, otherwise, were supposed to protect the Wetland, was now shortly going to be restored to it. Another development is that of preparing of a plan by the Wildlife Department for comprehensive conservation of the Wetland reserve over a period of next few years.
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