Govt to conserve all wetlands in Bihar: Min

Patna: The state govt on Sunday celebrated World Wetlands Day with a daylong training programme aimed at promoting awareness about the importance of wetlands and their conservation in the state. The event, organised by the department of environment, forests and climate change, was inaugurated by minister Prem Kumar.
In his address, the minister stressed the role of wetlands in maintaining ecological balance and supporting livelihoods. "Bihar is home to over 4,500 wetlands, which provide habitat for numerous plant and animal species and support agriculture, fisheries and other livelihood activities," he said.
He also highlighted the state govt's initiatives to conserve and manage wetlands, including the development of eco-tourism infrastructure and the promotion of sustainable livelihood practices. He urged the participants to work together to protect and conserve wetlands for future generations. "The state govt plans to develop eco-tourism infrastructure in select wetlands, including the Baraila Lake in Vaishali district and the Gogabil Lake in Katihar district. The govt has approved Rs 28 crore for Baraila Lake in Vaishali district, Rs 10 crore for the development of Gogabil Lake in Katihar district and Rs 22 crore for the Kanwar Lake in Begusarai district," he said.
The minister added that the govt will promote sustainable livelihood practices, such as fish farming and bird watching, in wetland areas to support local communities. "The govt will also provide training and capacity-building programmes for wetland mitras and other stakeholders to promote sustainable management practices," he said.
"Starting Feb 6, the department will begin organising environmental dialogues throughout the state. Also, public dialogues will be held at major wetlands like Gogabil, Gokul Reservoir, Kanwar Lake and Baraila Lake to promote public participation in govt efforts," he added.
The training programme was attended by over 200 wetland mitras (friends) from across the state, who were sensitized about the importance of wetland conservation and the role they can play in promoting sustainable management practices. The programme included technical sessions on wetland conservation and management, as well as interactive sessions with wetland mitras.