Harike Wetland (Tarn Taran): : On February 2, 2025, environmentalists are again converging at Punjab’s Harike Wetland to celebrate World Wetlands Day with a Beda Yatra (water safari) and a nature walk.
This is third time in a row when such event is being organized at village Karmuwal near Harike Pattan Wetland in Tarn Taran district by a group of environmentalists under the banner of Bhoomitra and Public Action Committee (PAC) Satluj-Mattewara-Buddha Dariya at village Karmuwal near Harike Pattan Wetland.
Located at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers, Harike is one of India’s most important wetlands and a haven for wildlife.
Known Indian sufi singer Rabbi Shergill and saxophonist from France Niccolo Vacchi had participated and performed as part of the celebration in the last two editions of this event.
This year Claire Nicolet, a handpan musician and a psychologist from France will join and perform at the event which has been gaining popularity since inception. Jeanette Satpel, a social media consultant from Bahrain will be present to document the event.
France-based the prime mover behind Bhoomitra movement, Dr Sunny Sandhu informed that they were quite excited to announce a special celebration of nature at Harike Pattan, featuring a serene boat ride and bird-watching experience.
The event offers an opportunity to witness the incredible diversity of migratory birds, including Siberian cranes, bar-headed geese, northern shovelers, and other remarkable species that travel thousands of kilometers in the winter season.
However, Harike Pattan is also home to the endangered freshwater Indus River dolphins, a species that thrives in the cleaner waters of the Beas River. Sadly, while the Beas remains relatively pristine and supports these dolphins, the Sutlej River faces severe pollution challenges due to industrial effluents and untreated sewage.
“This stark contrast between the two rivers highlights the urgent need to address the growing issue of river pollution,” added Sandhu.
“Through this unique initiative, we aim to not only celebrate the rich biodiversity of Harike but also draw attention to the importance of conserving these critical habitats. Wetlands like Harike are facing the brunt of polluted Sutlej waters and if we can tame polluters of the Buddha Dariya, Kala Sanghia drain and Chitti Bein then we can achieve a much cleaner Satluj just like the Beas river which is far better and in turn a cleaner Harike Wetland,” said Jaskirat Singh of the PAC.
The success of this event in last two years and the rising interest of environment activists, musicians and poets to promote and protect wetlands and rivers is a testament to the fact that people of Punjab are resisting the pollution and plunder of rivers and natural ecosystems of Punjab. This will also save people of Punjab and Rajasthan from a toxic drinking water which has given rise to movements like ‘Kale Pani Da Morcha’ over pollution of Ludhiana’s Buddha Dariya.
According to Tarn Taran based environmentalists Dr Jaspreet Singh and Sarpanch Iqbal Singh, the quality and quantity of fish in these rivers has dropped very significantly in the past few years. The Sutlej fish is very poor in health, size and colour due to pollution in the river. The Beas fish has gone down in quantity ever since there was a large leak of molasses in the river in 2018 from a sugar factory in Kiri Afghana village in Gurdaspur which led to very significant reduction.
“Unfortunately, it never recovered to the original levels after that massive ecological disaster,” they lamented.
Through this event, the activists seek to promote sustainable ecotourism in such areas of the state so that the ecology can be conserved and local populations and boatmen or Mallahs can also benefit from its conservation. It should be done by building campsites, bicycle paths and re-wilding Beas conservation zone.
