Harike wetland to be developed as eco-tourism spot: Minister

Harike will be developed as hub of eco-tourism to attract tourists and bird watchers from all parts of the globe, said Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Forest and Wildlife Minister.

The minister took stock of various developmental works which have been initiated at this “Ramsar site” with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The minister said that various projects, including nature interpretation centre, cafeteria, walking ramp, several watch towers and bird hides, have been set up.Considered the largest wetland in North India, this Ramsar site is spread over 86 square km. It is a winter haven for migratory birds which arrive here from Siberia, Europe and other parts of Central Asia.

Harike Wetland also known as "Hari-ke-Pattan", with the Harike Lake in the deeper part of it, is the largest wetland in northern India in the border of Tarn Taran Sahib district and Ferozepur district of the Punjab state in India.

The wetland and the lake were formed by constructing the headworks across the Sutlej river in 1953. The headworks is located downstream of the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers just south of Harike village. The rich biodiversity of the wetland which plays a vital role in maintaining the precious hydrological balance in the catchment with its vast concentration of migratory fauna of waterfowls including a number of globally threatened species (stated to be next only to the Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur) has been responsible for the recognition accorded to this wetland in 1990, by the Ramsar Convention, as one of the Ramasar sites in India, for conservation, development and preservation of the ecosystem.

This man-made, riverine, lacustrine wetland spreads into the three districts of Tarn Taran Sahib, Ferozepur and Kapurthala in Punjab and covers an area of 4100 ha. Conservation of this wetland has been given due importance, since 1987–88, both by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and the Punjab State Government (through its several agencies), and over the years several studies and management programmes have been implemented.

About ADB:

It is a regional development bank

established on 19 December 1966.

headquartered — Manila, Philippines.

official United Nations Observer.

Membership: The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE) and non-regional developed countries.