Restoration Measures
The gravity of the degraded status of the wetland has been addressed for implementing several restoration measures by a plethora of organizations/agencies/research institutions of the central and state governments and also the Indian Army Units located in the area. The measures undertaken to conserve the wetland have covered the following actions.
The Chief Minister of the State of Punjab instituted, in 1998, the Harike Wetland Conservation Mission to:
a) To prepare a Master Plan for the integrated conservation and development of the Harike wetland; b) To undertake specific projects and programmes for the conservation of the ecosystem of the Harike region; c) To regulate, screen and monitor all development activities which have a bearing on the Harike wetland ecosystem; d) To evaluate all plans and proposals of all departments of the Government which concern the future of Harike
- The menace of water hyacinth was addressed by the Indian Army (Western Command, Vajra Corps.) in the year 2000, in a joint effort initiated by the Chief Minister of the State. Under the Pilot Project named “Sahyog” the Army adopted several innovative mechanical system of weed removal. The Army General reporting on the progress of the works stated:
Through a number of innovative methods, we succeeded in making dynamic booms, and winches etc. After the operation, we have placed static and dynamic booms at strategic points in the Harike Lake to hold back the floating mats of water hyacinth so that it doesn’t spread. At the end of six months of untiring labour by our team, we had opened four channels, which had got choked with silt over the years. We also planted 750 saplings of plants of two years of age on the island for birds to nest and roost in future.
- The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology evolved a management plan which involved:
- Opening of sluice gates during monsoon
- Monitoring of water quality migration period
- Fencing some of the selected portions from encroachment
- Afforestation of the catchment area
- Survey, mapping & notification
- Soil Conservation
- Education and Public awareness
Read more about this topic: Harike Wetland
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