Tarn Taran diary: Harike, an abode for birds, rare Indus dolphins

Harike Wetland, also known as Harike Pattan, situated on the confluence of Beas and Sutlej, is endowed with rich biodiversity and surreal views. It is a significant abode for the birds migrating from across the international frontiers and the endangered Indus River Dolphin. A sight to behold for birdwatchers and other visitors, it has a huge water body on the one side with thousands of traditional birds and rising sun on the other, providing an experience which extends beyond the visual realm. Walking here with binoculars to get a magnified view of rare birds and animals is definitely the most preferred way to enjoy this nature’s delight. The addition of dolphins in the river had added in its magnificence. Watching rare Indus Dolphin is an unforgettable experience here. One thing is worth noting here that the Dolphins are very intelligent and they surprisingly call each other by a given name. It was supposed that this freshwater cetacean had become extinct in India after 1930 but amazingly it was found after 77 years. It’s a rare habitat in India exists only in Tarn Taran. The dolphin is a mammal which lives its entire life in fresh water and is warm blooded, give birth to live young and use echolocation to navigate, communicate and locate food. It also uses blubber as a heating and cooling system for their bodies. Their presence is the indicator of good health of Beas but these are highly endangered and probably less than a dozen exist. The state aquatic animal dolphin and gharials are under serious threat from anthropogenic activities. The silence of the area gets badly disturbed by the noise of tractors and boats carrying loads of men to the islands for farming, water getting polluted by poisoning from agricultural and Industrial chemicals etc. Grazing, water hyacinth, encroachment and shrinking area adds to problems. Luckily they survived the contamination of molasses leak when several species were wiped out, but such disasters can always happen.

Ecologist appeals for marine life protection

Navdeep Sood, a wildlife ecologist and researcher, has taken a serious note of the threat to dolphin and gharials of Beas and had called all concerned to come to save and protect this rich heritage mammal. He recalled that in 2019, the then CM Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh declared Indus dolphin as ‘State Aquatic Animal’ of Punjab. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech on August 15 announced the launching of ‘Project Dolphin’ to conserve and protect the fast-depleting species and to strengthen biodiversity, create employment opportunities and to attract tourism. Ecologist Sood had demanded from the state government to conserve this International Union for Conservation Network (IUCN’s) Red List endangered species. He said the WWF is running several projects for its conservation and still many more are required to learn more about these fantastic creatures and to spread love for them. He had also stressed on mass education and public awareness to save this animal and not to disturb their peaceful atmosphere.

Farmers’ rest house in Jhabal awaits completion

The rest house for farmers at Jhabal grain market is still a work in progress. The foundation stone of the rest house was laid down in 1984 at the time of opening of the market committee. The market committee and the grain market could get four walls only in 2021. There is no proper drinking water, toilet facilities here nor a shed to cover crop from rain and heat. The farmers coming to the market committee to sell their crops are facing hardships for decades. All their demands have fallen on deaf ears of the officials. There was no gate installed at the entry points and theft of the grain was a routine complaint of the farmers. The platforms of the grain market are much lower than the roads near the site leading to crop damage during the rainy season. Sawinder Singh, Mandi Supervisor and Tega Singh Sohal, former chairman of the market committee, said a number of letters had been written to the higher authorities in the past decades but of no avail. Jasmail Singh, secretary of the market committee, said due to lack of funds the rest house and other facilities could have not been provided in the market committee. Many other grain markets in the district like Kairon, Toot, Sabhra, Harike Fatehbad etc. too are crying for attention for long.

(Contributed by Gurbaxpuri)

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