Nangal Wetland To Be Wildlife Sanctuary Soon

India's Ministry of Environment has recently gifted a new Wildlife Sanctuary to Punjab state of Northern India. In a recent announcement, Ministry of Environment, India has included the wetland of Nangal in Punjab, a region known for its ecological significance in the National list of wetlands. It will be the fifth wetland and 13th Wildlife Sanctuary of Punjab that is of national importance.

Encompassing an area of 700 acres, this wetland of Punjab spreads over six villages namely Debeta, Hambewal, Talwara, Bhabahor Sahib, Khera Bagh and Sahmipur villages of the region. With the announcement of Indian Government, all these six villages are now going to be converted into the proposed wildlife sanctuary as this area is enriched in diverse flora, fauna and hydrology.

This reservoir was formed with the construction of a barrage over the Sutlej river in 1961, and the water is spread over an area of 650 hectares, including 375 hectares of the reservoir.

Thanks to the swamp and marshy land, Nangal wetland now serve as a home to the various species of both resident as well as migratory birds that travels from transit Himalayan region. Some of the famous resident birds that are available here are Red Jungle fowl, large Indian parakeet, Indian cuckoo, Bank Myna, wood shrike, yellow-eyed babbler and the crested bunting.

Even during the winter season, this reservoir of Punjab woos around 2,500 to 50,000 migratory birds of 40 distinct species. Some of the migratory birds are Brahminy ducks, Pintails, Black-necked grebes, Red-necked grebes, large cormorants, mallards, coots, moorhens, darters, terns and ruddyshell ducks. Some of the famous resident birds that are available in here are red jungle fowl, large Indian parakeet, Indian cuckoo, bank myna, wood shrike, yellow-eyed babbler and the crested bunting.

The catchment area along the Nangal wetland is an abode for some threatened species like the scaly anteater and python. Apart from them, this area is an important breeding place for the smooth Indian otter, the hog deer, the sambhar and the pangolin.

Two years ago, Department of Wildlife has moved this proposal of declaring the Nangal Wet land as the Wildlife sanctuary as the region is hot biodiversity zone of Punjab.

Punjab's Minister for Forests and Wildlife, Mr Tikshan Sud informed about his visit to six villages that are the part of this wildlife sanctuary to gather community support for the project. He moreover added that the department has acquired a the green signal from the villagers and would be issuing a first notification under the relevant Act soon. He mentioned that no change in the ownership of the land would take place.

He assured villagers that Nangal would be treated as a tourist spot once it attains the status of wildlife sanctuary. This would in turn aid the villagers of the area to improve their standard of living.