Public participation must for wildlife conservation: Rao Narbir

State Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh today underlined the importance of public participation in the conservation of animals and birds, saying that government initiatives alone cannot achieve sustainable environmental protection.

Addressing a programme on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, he said animals and birds held special significance in human life, and released the poster for the first Haryana Bird Festival 2026, to be held across the state from February 2 to 21.

The minister said Sultanpur (Gurugram) and Bhindawas (Jhajjar) were among the major wetlands in Haryana that attracted thousands of migratory birds from different countries every year.

He also referred to waterlogged areas spread over thousands of acres in Basai, Chandu and nearby villages in Gurugram, suggesting that 200-300 acres could be developed into a lake and converted into a tourist destination. Such a project, he said, would attract visitors from the Delhi-NCR, while also helping to address the issue of polythene and other waste.

Highlighting environmental concerns, he said though the production of single-use plastic and polythene had been banned since 2013, its use continued. Nearly 40 per cent of pollution, he said, was caused by polythene use.

The Haryana Wetland Authority and Pond Authority had been constituted, he said, emphasising that community participation was essential to maintain cleanliness and water quality in ponds and tanks.

Earlier, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Vivek Saxena highlighted the significance of World Wetlands Day, which was initiated in 1975 and is observed annually.