On World Wetlands Day, environmentalists in Punjab to advertise clear rivers with boat trip, nature stroll | Chandigarh Information

“We’re excited to announce a particular celebration of nature at Harike Pattan, that includes a serene boat trip and bird-watching expertise. Situated on the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers, Harike is a haven for wildlife. This occasion affords a possibility to witness the unimaginable range of migratory birds, together with Siberian cranes, bar-headed geese, northern shovelers, and different outstanding species that journey hundreds of kilometres within the winter,” Dr Sunny Sandhu from NGO Bhoomitra mentioned.

That is the third consecutive time {that a} boat trip has been deliberate by NGOs Bhoomitra and Public Motion Committee (PAC) Mattewara Buddha Darya Satluj at Karmuwala village close to Harike Pattan Wetland.

Whereas common Sufi singer Rabbi Shergill and Niccolo Vacchi, a French saxophonist, had participated within the celebrations within the final two years, Claire Nicolet, a handpan musician and a psychologist from France, will carry out this 12 months.

This would be the third consecutive Beda Yatra. (File photograph from 2023)

“Harike Pattan can be dwelling to the endangered freshwater Indus River dolphins, a species that thrives within the cleaner waters of the Beas River. Sadly, whereas the Beas stays comparatively pristine and helps these dolphins, the Sutlej River faces extreme air pollution challenges because of industrial effluents and untreated sewage. This stark distinction between the 2 rivers highlights the pressing want to deal with the rising difficulty of river air pollution,” Sandhu, an NRI in France with roots in Tarn Taran, mentioned.

“By this distinctive initiative, we goal to not solely have a good time the wealthy biodiversity of Harike but in addition draw consideration to the significance of conserving these vital habitats. Wetlands like Harike are going through the brunt of polluted Sutlej waters and if we are able to tame polluters of the Buddha Dariya, Kala Sanghian drain and Chitti Bein then we are able to obtain a a lot cleaner Satluj similar to the Beas river which is much better, and in flip, a cleaner Harike Wetland,” Jaskirat Singh of PAC mentioned.

“We should always all work in the direction of defending this very important wetland and making certain that its biodiversity thrives for generations to come back. The success of this occasion within the final two years and the rising curiosity of environmental activists, musicians and poets to advertise and defend wetlands and rivers is a testomony to the truth that individuals of Punjab are resisting the air pollution and plunder of rivers and pure ecosystems of Punjab. This may also save individuals of Punjab and Rajasthan from poisonous consuming water which has given rise to actions like ‘Kale Pani Da Morcha’,” he added.

Dr Jaspreet Singh and Sarpanch Iqbal Singh, environmentalists from Tarn Taran, mentioned the standard and amount of fish within the rivers has dropped considerably prior to now few years. “The Sutlej fish may be very poor in well being, dimension and color because of air pollution within the river. The Beas fish has gone down in amount ever since there was a big leak of molasses within the river in 2018 from a sugar manufacturing unit in Kiri Afghana village in Gurdaspur… it by no means recovered to the unique ranges after that huge ecological catastrophe. The federal government ought to look into this difficulty and get some examine carried out,” Singh mentioned.

The activists mentioned they want sustainable ecotourism to be promoted in such areas in order that the ecology might be conserved and locals and boatmen can profit from its conservation. It may be executed by constructing campsites, bicycle paths and rewilding the Beas conservation zone, they added.

Jeanette Satpel, a social media advisor from Bahrain, shall be current to doc the occasion, Jaskirat mentioned.