The wetlands on the banks of Hindon which enjoyed rich biodiversity, supported extensive and diverse macrophytic vegetation and attracted migratory birds from around the world are now on the verge of extinction.
Joga Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Ghaziabad, said river Hindon has wetlands but industrial pollution, illegal construction on eco-sensitive area of 200 meters on each side of the river is responsible for the deterioration of the natural vegetation and flora.
According to the Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh, 232 wetlands have been found through Global Positioning System (GPS) in Hindon riverbed in Gautam Budh Nagar area and 336 wetlands in Modi Nagar area spread in 403.277 hectare.
When The Pioneer visited the river there were no migratory birds seen; only residents birds like pigeon, crow were there and the water level seemed to have gone down drastically. The riverbed area has been encroached by the locals and building mafia. Water quality due to surface runoffs and other effluents, and decomposition of macrophytic vegetation has completely deteriorated.
Top officials of Ghaziabad administration said to protect wetlands on riverbed of the Hindon, the Municipal Corporation of Ghaziabad (MCG) should prepare a sewage and solid waste plan.
“Saving wetlands is multidistrict function. Though all the District Magistrates of the districts where river flows have given orders to their subordinates to create small water pounds on the riverbed, real challenge is to deal with industrial wastes,” said administrator officer, Ghaziabad.
While forest officials claimed that most of the wetlands on the banks of Hindon are still very much bird sanctuary, a senior officer said to protect these wetlands administration needs force to remove illegal construction on 200 metre area on each side of the riverbed.
Sameer, a bird watcher, said, “There was a time when migratory birds came here for nesting and breeding. The required macrophytic vegetation, atmospheric conditions were the reasons for the populations of different migratory birds but now these wetlands are losing its essence. People, builders have occupied the birds’ space.”
Environmentalists and other experts blame the management of local administrations and lack of conservation measures resulting in diminishing or extinction of this once biodiversity rich life supporting system.
One of the wildlife experts said the bird sanctuaries on the banks of the river are in imminent danger of extinction. “One can see there is no water in the river. Besides ongoing constructions and industrial waste continue to pollute the soil and water,” said a wildlife photographer.
While talking about the relation between wetlands and birds, Professor AJ Urfi of Delhi University said the wetland and birds b-oth are shaped by many factors which include the availability, depth, and quality of water; the availability of food and shelter; and the presence or absence of predators.
“Birds have daily and seasonal dependencies on wetlands for food and other life-supporting systems and it depend on the attributes of wetland including physical and biological conditions,” the professor added.