CHANDIGARH – In a move set to elevate Chandigarh’s environmental profile on the world stage, the State Wetland Authority of the Union Territory has officially approved a proposal to designate the Sukhna wetland as a Ramsar site. This landmark decision marks the first time a site in Chandigarh will receive the prestigious international recognition, highlighting the ecological and cultural significance of the Sukhna wetland.
The proposal, which will now be sent to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for further action, was sanctioned during the fourth meeting of the State Wetland Authority. The meeting was chaired by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Gulab Chand Kataria. The final designation requires consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ramsar Secretariat.
A Ramsar site is a wetland area of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands. The convention, adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, aims to protect these vital ecosystems through local, regional, and national actions, and international cooperation. India became a party to the convention on February 1, 1982.
Beyond the Ramsar site proposal, the authority also greenlit a comprehensive five-year Integrated Management Plan for the Sukhna Wetland. Prepared by the Forest Department in collaboration with the World Wide Fund (WWF) and other administration departments, the plan is budgeted at Rs 22.5 crore. It outlines a series of crucial initiatives for the protection, conservation, and scientific management of the wetland. The plan will now be submitted to the MoEF&CC for funding under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) Scheme.
Key initiatives within the five-year plan include:
• Maintaining the lake’s water level and preserving its diverse aquatic life.
• Ensuring the cleanliness of the water body and its surrounding vicinity.
• Increasing tourist facilities, including a rise in the number of solar-powered boats to mitigate pollution.
• Overall restoration and conservation efforts to secure the long-term health of the ecosystem.
The Administrator has directed all concerned departments to take swift, time-bound action to implement the plan, emphasizing the protection and scientific management of Sukhna Lake and other water bodies across the Union Territory.
Spread over nearly 565 acres with a vast catchment area of 10,395 acres, the Sukhna wetland was first declared a national wetland by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1988. The Sukhna wildlife sanctuary, a critical part of the ecosystem, emerged in its catchment area, further emphasizing the need for its conservation.
This approval represents a major step forward for Chandigarh’s environmental stewardship, promising to bring enhanced resources and international attention to the preservation of a cherished natural and recreational asset.