‘Promote place as important tourist destination’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar today directed the Deputy Commissioner Jammu to expedite the land acquisition process for Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve in R S Pura.
The Advisor gave these directions while chairing a meeting at Civil Secretariat to discuss the land acquisition issue with the Revenue officers and officers from Forest and Wildlife Protection Department.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Forest Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, PCCF J&K Suresh Chugh, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Sanjeev Verma, Chief Wildlife Warden J&K Suresh Kumar Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu Sameer Bharti, Regional Wildlife Warden Jammu Tahir Shawl and other concerned officers.
While discussing the need for land acquisition for the reserve, the Advisor was given details of the total land to be acquired and the steps taken in this regard so far by the district administration. He also asked the officers of Wildlife Protection Department to take steps to conserve the wetland and promoting the place among tourists especially bird lovers.
Addressing the meeting, the Advisor directed the concerned officers to take up the land acquisition work on urgent basis keeping in view the importance of protecting the Gharana Wetland.
During the meeting, a detailed presentation was made by Chief Wildlife Warden J&K about the Gharana Wetland Reserve. It was informed that the wetland was declared as Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International and BNHS. One can have nearest view of Bar-headed Geese, a bird coming from Central Asia in this wetland, the meeting was told.
Further it was told that a five year management plan of Gharana Conservation Reserve has been prepared by the department through WWF, an international organization under which various management and development activities have been proposed which shall help to conserve the Gharana Wetland and make it an important tourist destination promoting eco-tourism.
Chief Wildlife Warden J&K said that the Gharana Wetland shall also become a hub for bird watchers and ornithologists.
Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve was notified in 1981 and is home to more than 150 species of birds. During the winter the wetland is visited by thousands of birds from Central Asia and some of the migratory bird species visiting this wetland are endangered.
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