Bird-watching centre comes up at Ropar

Tribune News Service

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Ropar, February 21

The Tourism Department has set up a bird-watching centre in the dense forest area of Sadabrat. Though its formal inauguration is yet to be scheduled, the Ropar Wildlife Department has already started group tours of students to the area on the outskirts of Ropar.

Local birds as well as migratory birds, including Himalayan bulbul, plum-headed parakeet, great barbet, Indian peafowl, grey hornbill, Asian koel, black francolin, Eurasian coot, ruddy shelduck, red-crested pochard, bar-headed goose, great cormorant, mallard, gadwall and little egret can be spotted in the area.

The project worth Rs 10 crore includes an interpretation centre, where information about birds and other literature for promotion of ecotourism in the state will be provided to the visitors.

Besides, three bird-watching towers and a boardwalk have also been constructed. The forest enthusiasts will be able to enjoy walking on the nature trail in the Sadabrat Protected Forest.

The Ropar Wetland was designated as a Ramsar site in 2002. Monika Yadav, District Forest Officer (wildlife) said the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation held a bird fest last month during which seminars and bird-watching tours were held for students, and essay-writing as well as painting competitions organised.