Record breaking migratory birds arrival expected this year
Finally, wetland on path of regaining lost grandiose
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 5: In a significant development, the Gharana Conservation Reserve’s water-body has extended by nearly 80 kanals within a period of three years because of different steps taken under habitat improvement strategy by the Department of Wildlife.
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Due to this, the world-famous wetland is on the path of regaining lost grandiose and the number of migratory birds, particularly bar-headed geese, is all set to break all the previous records this year, which is not less than a milestone for the Department of Wildlife of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Till few years back, Gharana Wetland was shrinking because of varied reasons particularly due to flow of untreated sewage from the households in its vicinity and lack of serious efforts from the concerned authorities towards its conservation.
However, following the intervention of High Court of Jammu & Kashmir in a Public Interest Litigation on the subject, around 400 kanals of land was acquired by the Wildlife Department to restore original area of Gharana Wetland.
After the acquisition of land and its fencing, the Wildlife Department chalked out habitat improvement plan and accordingly started de-silting and de-weeding activities on a large scale. Due to this, the water-body of the Gharana Conservation Reserve has spread to 80 kanals in three years. In the year 2021, the area of water-body was only 30 kanals and at present the same stands extended up to 110 kanals, an officer of the Wildlife Department told EXCELSIOR.
Apart from habitat improvement measures, the Wildlife Department has even taken several steps to ensure that chemicals from the adjoining paddy fields don’t get discharged into water-body of Gharana Conservation Reserve without treatment.
This has also led to increase in invertebrates and dependent species in the wetland. All these measures have led to significant increase in the arrival of migratory birds to the wetland this year. Earlier, around 2500 to 3000 migratory birds particularly bar-headed geese used to visit the wetland during the season between December beginning to March ending. During 2023-24, a total of 8500 birds visited the wetland but this year 5000 migratory birds have arrived till date.
“We are quite hopeful that this year (before ending March) the migratory birds will cross the 10000 mark, which will be not less than a milestone for the Wildlife Department”, the officer said. Further, in order to prevent any sort of damage to the adjoining paddy fields by the migratory birds, the Wildlife Department is feeding 60 kilograms of grains per day to the migratory birds within the wetland area.
For the convenience of the visitors, by-pass road has been constructed for Gharana Wetland. Similarly, adequate space has been earmarked for parking of vehicles. “Besides developing the water body, the plan includes developing a large park, bird viewing decks, biogas plant, composting plant, wallowing area, STP, perches, reed plantation area and many more common amenities”, the officer said while giving a detailed outline of the development plan of the ‘Gharana Eco-Spot’.
It is pertinent to mention here that Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve is home to more than 170 species of birds like bar-headed geese, gadwalls, common teals, purple swamp hens, Indian moorhens, black-winged stilts, cormorants, egrets and green shanks.
During the peak season, the water body attracts thousands of migratory birds from Central Asia, Mongolia, Russia, China and other countries across the globe offering a great opportunity for bird lovers.
When contacted, Chief Wildlife Warden Sarvesh Rai, while confirming expansion of water-body and arrival of more than expected migratory birds this season so far, said, “during the past two-three years several works have been carried out in this direction particularly after the intervention of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir”, adding “now, I am sure that with each passing year Gharana Wetland will keep on regaining lost magnificence step-by-step”.
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