The Ghaziabad has lost its wetlands due to encroachment and other accounts cries environmentalists on International Wetland Day on February 2, 2018. Out of 149 water bodies only 21 are surviving .
Vijay Pal Singh Baghel, an environmentalist, said earlier, there were 149 water bodies in the district. Now only 21 water bodies are bleakly surviving. The most adversely affected area of loosing water bodies is the water table which was at 21 feet deep has gone down to 175 feet under ground.
Not only private persons but the Government bodies are not lagging behind to destroy these water bodies. A major water body Hindon bird sanctuary which was spread over 27 hectare is now non-existent. The Municipal Corporation of Ghaziabad sold the parts of this water body to a private industry Mohan Meakin limited through transfer deed.
The municipal corporation compensated Mohan Meakin in lieu of its scattered land acquired by the Avas Vikas Parishad for its Vasundhara housing complex.
In the same manner Arthala lake has reduced from 27 Acre to 3 acre through massive encroachment by private persons. “ We are very much concerned on such environment related issues. The union government had taken steps to curb pollution in new budget. We at our end are taking strict measures to preserve environment”, said Municipal Commissioner CP Singh.