Surajpur Wetland’s eco-system being violated: Activist
GREATER NOIDA: Surajpur Wetland in Greater Noida, one of the few surviving wetlands of National Capital Region (NCR), continues to be in a deplorable state. More than a hundred trees in the vicinity of the natural lake have been felled and an illegal construction of a pathway and an eco park is taking place in the wetland area, claims an environment activist.
Environment activist Vikarant Tongad, who has been raising the issue for some time, said even after the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order to put an immediate halt to the construction activities on the Surajpur wetland in the reserved forests, the trees are still being felled in connivance with Forest Department employees. Surajpur wetland has the status of a reserved forest area.
“Over a period of time, plantation of new trees and construction of eco-park have been illegally carried out in the Surajpur Wetland area. Over a hundered old trees of palm, peepal and neem have been felled and plantation of new trees those of alstonia and ficus are being done. Though these new trees might add a charm to the beauty of the area, they do not have much environmental values. The plantation of such anti-habitat species of trees in the natural habitat will affect the wildlife and the ecosystem,” said Tongad.
Tongad also claimed that there is an illegal construction of drainage taking place even though a drainage is already present within Surajpur wetland. A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, and has a distinct ecosystem. Having a status of a reserved forest, no construction work can be carried out here without the permission of central government. But the state govt authorities are illegally performing the construction work, trying to make it a tourist spot rather than leaving it as a natural reserve forest area.
The 339-acre reserve forest, on the relatively undisturbed Dadri Road is now fenced in by various real-estate projects, including a sports city.
H V Girish, district forest officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, said, “There is no construction of eco-park taking place in the wetland area. The Surajpur wetland is a reserve forest and will remain like that only. We are trying to facilitate the birdwatchers by making the needful modifications and not affecting the natural habitat. The drainage system is slightly modified to have a proper flow of water to the area.”
However, Tongad disagreed with the forest department and claimed that the construction work will surely affect the ecosystem and natural habitat of the area.