CHANDIGARH , Sept 20— The State Wetland Authority of Chandigarh has approved a proposal to designate the Sukhna wetland as a Ramsar site, marking the first such recognition for the Union Territory. The move is aimed at giving international recognition to Sukhna Wetland and highlighting its ecological and cultural significance.
The proposal will now be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for further action, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ramsar Secretariat. The decision was taken during the fourth meeting of the State Wetland Authority, chaired by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria.
A Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 in Iran and enforced in India since February 1982. The convention promotes conservation and sustainable use of wetlands through local, national, and international cooperation.
In the same meeting, the authority approved a five-year Integrated Management Plan for Sukhna Wetland, prepared by the Forest Department in consultation with the World Wide Fund (WWF) and other relevant departments. The Rs 22.5 crore plan outlines measures for water-level maintenance, preservation of aquatic life, pollution control, and scientific management of the wetland. The plan also includes increasing tourist facilities, including more solar-powered boats to prevent water pollution.
“The Administrator directed all departments concerned to take time-bound action for the protection, conservation, and scientific management of Sukhna Lake as well as other water bodies across the Union Territory,” officials said.
The meeting was attended by senior Chandigarh Administration officials, the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary-cum-Forest Secretary, and expert members from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, and WWF.
Spread over nearly 565 acres with a catchment area of 10,395 acres, Sukhna Wetland was declared a national wetland in 1988, emphasizing its conservation importance. The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary also lies within the wetland’s catchment area.
