Submit Pong wetland’s map within a month, NGT to wildlife officials
The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi, has granted a final one-month opportunity to the state wildlife authorities to file their reply and submit a detailed map of the Pong wetland’s notified wildlife sanctuary area and its eco-sensitive zone in the lower Kangra region. The tribunal issued this directive while hearing a petition (648/2024) filed by environmentalist MR Sharma, who has raised concerns over alleged encroachments and illegal activities in the sanctuary. The next hearing is scheduled for February 18.
In his petition, Sharma has urged the authorities to safeguard the sanctuary, which is also an internationally recognised Ramsar site, from land encroachers. He highlighted that all illegal activities in the sanctuary were prohibited by the Supreme Court in February 2000. The petitioner expressed concern over the adverse impact of these activities on the biodiversity and ecological balance of the wetland.
The petition has named 14 respondents, including the Himachal Pradesh state government through the Chief Secretary, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the Member Secretary of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, and officials from the state Wildlife and Forest departments.
During an earlier hearing on September 17, 2024, the NGT had directed the respondents to submit their replies and a comprehensive map by January 8, 2025. However, the respondents failed to comply, prompting the tribunal to grant this final opportunity.
Environmental activist Sharma alleged that stubble burning within the sanctuary area after the harvesting season is endangering the safety of around one lakh migratory birds from about 100 species that visit the wetland annually. He also claimed that the sanctuary is being plundered and damaged under the very nose of the authorities concerned, posing a significant threat to its ecological integrity.
