100 Indus dolphins from Pakistan to be released at Harike, says Sidhu

Sunday, 03/02/2019

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TARN TARAN/FEROZEPUR : Tourism minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday said there is a plan to release nearly 100 Indus river dolphins into the Harike Wetland, which will be brought from Pakistan in exchange of ghariyals. He was addressing a function organised to commemorate the World Wetlands Day at Harike wetland.

“We have surplus ghariyals at Chhatbir zoo in Mohali while Pakistan has ample Indus dolphins. So, I am going to take up the matter with chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and hopefully get more than 100 dolphins for the wetland which will add to its tourism attraction,” Sidhu said.

“The wetland attracts a large number of migratory birds every year and, this year, a record number of 1.25 lakh birds have arrived at Harike,” he informed.

“The tourists will soon be able to avail facilities such as e-rickshaws, bicycles, binoculars and boating soon,” said Sidhu.

“I will talk to the CM over freeing the prime portion of wetland from encroachment, including some for religious activities,” said Sidhu, after Congress MLAs Kulbir Singh Zira and Harminder Singh Gill raised the issue. The department also plans to plant trees suitable for different species of birds and STPs to treat effluents that enter the wetland. The minister also inaugurated a photo exhibition on birds found at Harike, Nangal and Keshopur.

‘SHIKARAS’ TO REPLACE AMPHIBIOUS BUS

Sidhu said his department was planning to replace the amphibious bus with Kashmir-style ‘shikaras’ at Harike wetland and wildlife sanctuary.

It is the largest wetland in north India, situated along the border of Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts.

The amphibious bus was introduced at the wetland by then deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in December 2016.

Sidhu said, “The then government had spent ₹9 crore on the amphibious bus. We have earned only ₹66,000. We are planning to auction the bus and introduce ‘shikaras’.”

“Besides introducing ‘shikaras’, ₹150 crore will also be spent on harnessing the tourism potential of Harike wetland,” he said. He said the infrastructure development activities being undertaken by the department of tourism will be completed by April 30, 2019. The department has already spent ₹10 crore on infrastructure at the wetland — an interpretation centre, bird watch towers, bird hides, observation tower, canteen, parking and conveniences, he said.