Chandigarh, February 2 — Haryana’s Forest and Environment Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, said that animals and birds have held a special place in human life since ancient times. They are also closely associated with deities, symbolizing our religious and cultural traditions. He emphasized that along with government efforts, public participation is extremely necessary for their conservation.
He was speaking as the Chief Guest at a programme organized in Panchkula on the occasion of World Wetlands Day today. On this occasion, the Forest Minister released the poster of the first Haryana Bird Festival–2026, which will be held across the state from February 2 to February 21, and formally inaugurated the festival by unveiling the calendar of activities planned during the event.
Appreciating the programme’s theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge – A Celebration of Nature and Culture,” Rao Narbir Singh said that Haryana has two major wetlands — Sultanpur (Gurugram) and Bhindawas (Jhajjar) — where thousands of migratory birds arrive every year from different countries. He stated that during the COVID period, some species had reached the brink of extinction, but the government is now making efforts to provide all necessary facilities at wetlands so that more migratory birds visit every year.
He informed that in Basai, Chandu and three to four nearby villages of Gurugram, thousands of acres of land remain waterlogged. Out of this, a lake can be developed over 200–300 acres and transformed into a tourist destination, which would attract visitors from Delhi-NCR and also help rid the area of polythene and plastic waste.
The Forest Minister said that the manufacture of single-use plastic and polythene has been banned in Haryana since 2013, yet their use continues. He stressed that the success of this law is not possible without public participation and urged people to take a pledge to stop using single-use plastic and polythene.
He explained that burning polythene releases toxic gases that pollute the environment, while burying it in the ground takes about 450 years to decompose and also blocks urban sewerage systems. The Environment Minister said that his goal is to make Haryana polythene-free, which requires public cooperation. He also stated that nearly 40 percent of pollution is caused by the use of polythene.
He added that the Haryana Wetland Authority and Pond Authority have been constituted, but they have not yet fully achieved their objectives. He stressed that local community participation is essential for cleaning and conserving water bodies such as johads and ponds.
On this occasion, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Vivek Saxena, highlighted the importance of World Wetlands Day and said that it began in 1975. He noted that it is necessary to maintain a balance between development and environment, which is why this day is observed every year with a new theme. This year’s theme is “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge – A Celebration of Nature and Culture.”
The programme was attended by MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator Vineet Kumar Garg, K.C. Meena, other departmental officials and employees, and a large number of schoolchildren.
