No water at Okhla sanctuary, UP irrigation department under fire

As spring turns into summer, migratory birds from central Asia and beyond that flew south to India in order to escape the harsh winter chill of their northern homelands return to their countries, making short pit stops along the way to rest and recuperate.

- Vinod Rajput and Jasjeev Gandhiok

NOIDA:

One of these havens is the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Gautam Budh Nagar—spread across 400 hectares along the Yamuna, the park is designated an IBA (important bird area) site. It was notified as a bird sanctuary in 1990, and is part of the Central Asian Flyway. According to birders, more than 20,000 birds of over 70 native and migratory species can be spotted at the site.

However, this year, the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department has drained out water from the Okhla Bird Sanctuary to repair the gates of the Okhla barrage—a move that has baffled birders and forest officials alike, who have pointed out that the decision has jeopardised the lives of thousands upon thousands of birds that rely on this park and its water body as a crucial refuge for what is a very, very long journey home.

Gillian Wright, a birder who visited the bird sanctuary on Sunday morning, said large tracts of the park were completely dry during her visit. "It was both shocking and horrifying. Migratory species like wigeons, garganey, common pochards, tufted duck—all present here a week ago—were missing," said Wright.