Lucknow, 02 February: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the program ‘Conservation of wetlands for the future of all of us’ at Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary in Gonda on World Wetlands Day on Sunday. Chief Minister Yogi released various books, visited the exhibition and awarded the winners of various competitions on this occasion.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that wetlands have a big role in providing food, medicine, livelihood, income resources along with groundwater conservation, availability of irrigation-drinking water, control of flood and drought, carbon storage and conservation of flora, wild animals, migratory and local birds dependent on aquatic ecosystem. Not only aquatic ecology, but also the ecology of animals depends on wetlands. It also becomes a medium to draw attention towards the original form of nature. Parvati and Arga natural lakes draw our attention towards the original form of nature. This is a symbol of India’s heritage, which became a natural lake hundreds of years ago due to the Saryu river. Its form is still the same. Migratory and local birds are sitting here. They come here every time after covering a distance of thousands of km. When the heat increases, they will start going to their country. It also inspires us to know the conditions there.
Chief Minister said that tourism is a medium to strengthen the economy. Eco, heritage, spiritual tourism also becomes a big medium of employment generation. 20 km from here, Ayodhya, only 2.35 lakh tourists came in 2016. Our government improved connectivity there, increased some facilities, so in 2024 16. 11 crore people came here. This increased employment significantly. Employment of people also increased through guides, restaurants, taxis, hotels, home stays, tent city, flower-leaf, business etc.
Regarding Wetlant, the Chief Minister said that the earth is our mother. As a son, it is our responsibility to protect and safeguard the mother.
He said that often such sites fall prey to encroachment. There is haphazard construction, which affects the ecosystem. Many wetlands are suffering its ill effects. This also destroys species of animals. Keeping this in mind, it was decided in 1971 in the Ramsar International Wetland Convention (it is inside Iran) that if we want to save the world, then we will have to pay attention to this.
CM said that only 23 Ramsar sites were prepared after independence. Under the guidance of PM Modi, success was achieved in increasing it to 89 in 10 years, adding further, “continuous efforts will have to be made to conserve these sites in UP as well”, he said.
Yogi further said that till five-seven years ago, people used to gift Chinese products on some event, but today ODOP products are given as gifts. This strengthens the local market. A lot of people get employment opportunities. The work growing through women volunteer groups will also lead towards self-reliance. Gram Panchayat and every family will have to be made self-reliant. If we increase the goal of self-reliance through this medium, then we will be successful in achieving the goal of making UP’s economy one trillion dollars in three to four years.
On developing Tikri forest as an open safari, the Chief Minister said that by developing Tikri forest as an open safari, it will develop the Mandal and Awadh region as a very big center of eco-tourism. The UP government will take the responsibility of connectivity. The government will also work to connect Parvati and Arga wetlands with the Saryu Canal National Project. He said that in a survey conducted 8 years ago, Gonda was the dirtiest district in the country, but today Gonda’s ranking is good. Today a medical college has been built here. The Varangians who did not get rights for 100 years, have got rights today and are also living a respectable life.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also honoured the winners of various competitions. The Chief Minister and the Union Minister awarded the winners of three competitions. The winners of all three competitions were girls. Shraddha Maurya (Class-8) was the winner in all three painting competitions. She was awarded three thousand rupees, a memento and a certificate. Quiz winner Aditi Longoria (Class-9) was given three thousand rupees, a memento and a certificate. Street play winner Archita Singh (Class-12) was honoured with 20 thousand rupees, a memento and a certificate.
