Surajpur wetland in Greater Noida has witnessed lesser number of migratory birds except comparatively larger number of Graylag Geese than other duck species in December .
According to TK Roy, Ecologist and Conservationist, Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) by Wetlands International South Asia, mismanagement by Gautam Budh Nagar Forest Division, Noida and making it an entertainment tourism park is one of reasons for the arrival of a lesser number of birds.
Roy said around 3,137 waterbirds of 37 species were found in Surajpur wetland in December ,2023. In 2022, 1,453 waterbirds of 46 species arrived here.
Ecologists say that several species of birds have stopped coming to the wetland as the residential colonies which have come up around Surajpur, are using it as a landfill. It said global climate change impact is the common reason of delayed and lesser migratory water birds arrival almost everywhere but several other reasons - dries up the wetland, covers the wetland surface by water hyacinth, over fill up the wetland by channelize most polluted industrial water and human disturbance also lead to lesser number of birds. Heaps of non-biodegradable waste — plastic bags, household waste and food scrap — can be seen piled near the waterbody that once hosted the hundreds of winter migrants.
As regards Surajpur wetland, the survey said earlier the wetland used to very good site for diverse species of large number of long distant winter migratory water birds. The reserve forest was also good habitat for few other wildlife species and diverse species of terrestrial birds already decreased due to being promoted it as Entertainment Tourism Park by name of Ecotourism by cut down original reserve forest habitat about 30 - 40% with limited plantation of trees keeping wide gaps and ground habitat developed as green grassland for picnic, entertainment, enjoyment activities. As a result forest habitat degraded and overall bird species diversity with population decreasing is disturbance for bird’s foraging, roosting.
The sprawling Surajpur wetland, about 14km from Noida. It is situated near Surajpur Village in Dadri Tehsil of District Gautam Budh Nagar under Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, Uttar Pradesh, which comes under Western Wildlife Circuit. Many birds come and pay a visit and often make it their home. It proves to be a good habitat for migratory birds including from Siberia. Wetlands are known for freshwater which is important for aquatic life where many animals and plants survive. One of the other major problems which Surajpur wetland is going through is the uncontrolled growth of Jalkumbhi also called Water Hyacinth. The wetland is located 800m from Delhi - Noida- Dadri Road, 6 Kms. from Dadri Railway Station, 26 Kms. from Delhi, 90 Kms. from Aligarh, 24 Kms. from Noida City and 3 Kms. from Greater Noida City, Uttar Pradesh.
A survey conducted by Roy has found decline in arrival of migratory water-birds at wetlands at Delhi and NCR. This decline has been attributed to global climate change, high level of air pollution, delay in arrival of winter season, increasing human intervention and drying up wetlands.
