UT celebrates World Wetlands Day

Chandigarh, Feb 2 (UNI) The World Wetlands Day was organised here today for the preservation and conservation of wetlands in the Union Territory.

Finance Secretary-cum-Secretary, Environment SK Sandhu said the year's theme was Fish for Tomorrow'. He released 15,000 fish fingerlings in the newly constructed Patiala-ki-Rao Lake near the Botanical Garden on the occasion.

The first Convention on Conservation of Wetlands was held in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. Every year, Government agencies, Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and citizens undertake different activities on this day for creating mass awareness about the importance and benefits of wetlands. At present, over 150 countries are members of the convention, he said.

Mr Sandhu said the project was started for harvesting rain water and the catchment area of 250 acres of the land was under the Forest Department.

He further informed that the lake would serve as an attractive spot for eco-tourism and maintainence work was on.

Proper seating arrangement was already provided and two to three meditation huts would be set up around the lake by March 31, 2007, he informed.

UNI