Bird sightings more than halve in Najafgarh jheel | Delhi News
New Delhi: Najafgarh jheel, the city’s largest wetland, has seen a sharp decline in bird population and species density, the 2022 annual Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) revealed on Tuesday organized by Wetlands International.
Compared with 27,673 birds of 81 species in January last year, ornithologists this time counted 10,592 birds of 71 species. Osprey, common crane, bar-headed goose, coot, shoveler and greylag goose were among the top sightings, according to the census. While Najafgarh jheel had become home to large numbers of flamingos, ranging from 100 to 500 birds per day, only one was spotted during this year’s census.
Calling the situation “alarming”, experts called for the conservation and immediate legal protection of the “degraded and disturbed” habitat. They said factors such as encroachment and visible disturbances, such as fishing and netting in areas where flamingos often wade, could be possible for the low turnout.
“Waterfowl are one of the main indicators of the health of a wetland. In Najafgarh jheel, pollution and human disturbances are significant. The lake is also wedged between two states, delaying a proper management plan. The conservation and sustainability of the wetland now depends on the pending final order and directions from the National Green Tribunal for notification under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017,” said conservationist TK Roy of Wetland International.
Najafgarh is the largest wetland in Delhi and the second largest in the NCR after Basai in Gurgaon. It is located partly in Haryana and in the South West district of Delhi. Considered an important habitat, it is home to 281 species of birds, according to government records. It currently faces major threats from pollution, siltation and encroachment, among others.
“The construction of the Massani Dam on the Sahibi River at Rewari had made the jheel Najafgarh dependent on the monsoon for water. It kills the wetland. Besides, the two sewers of Badshapur and Dharampur in Haryana also pollute it. Large-scale illegal fishing, encroachments, water pumping, agriculture and urbanization are all destroying this magnificent wetland,” added Roy.
Compared with 27,673 birds of 81 species in January last year, ornithologists this time counted 10,592 birds of 71 species. Osprey, common crane, bar-headed goose, coot, shoveler and greylag goose were among the top sightings, according to the census. While Najafgarh jheel had become home to large numbers of flamingos, ranging from 100 to 500 birds per day, only one was spotted during this year’s census.
Calling the situation “alarming”, experts called for the conservation and immediate legal protection of the “degraded and disturbed” habitat. They said factors such as encroachment and visible disturbances, such as fishing and netting in areas where flamingos often wade, could be possible for the low turnout.
“Waterfowl are one of the main indicators of the health of a wetland. In Najafgarh jheel, pollution and human disturbances are significant. The lake is also wedged between two states, delaying a proper management plan. The conservation and sustainability of the wetland now depends on the pending final order and directions from the National Green Tribunal for notification under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017,” said conservationist TK Roy of Wetland International.
Najafgarh is the largest wetland in Delhi and the second largest in the NCR after Basai in Gurgaon. It is located partly in Haryana and in the South West district of Delhi. Considered an important habitat, it is home to 281 species of birds, according to government records. It currently faces major threats from pollution, siltation and encroachment, among others.
“The construction of the Massani Dam on the Sahibi River at Rewari had made the jheel Najafgarh dependent on the monsoon for water. It kills the wetland. Besides, the two sewers of Badshapur and Dharampur in Haryana also pollute it. Large-scale illegal fishing, encroachments, water pumping, agriculture and urbanization are all destroying this magnificent wetland,” added Roy.