Page 15 - Mann Ki Baat January, 2023
P. 15

Startups Engaged in e-waste Management
          accumulated  throughout  the      local  community     deserves
          year on marshy soil-like land. A   congratulations,  who  have
                           nd
          few days later, on 2  February, it   preserved this Biodiversity. It
          is World Wetlands Day. Wetlands   is also a tribute to our age-old
          are very important for the        culture and tradition of living
          existence of our earth because    in harmony with nature. These
          many birds and animals depend     wetlands of India are also an
          on them. Along with enriching     example of our natural potential.
          biodiversity, they also ensure    Chilika Lake of Odisha is known to
          flood  control  and  ground  water   shelter more than 40 waterbird
          recharge. Many of you must        species. Keibul Lamjao, Loktak is
          be knowing that Ramsar Sites      considered to be the only natural
          are  such  wetlands  which  are   habitat of the Swamp Deer.
          of  international  importance.       Vedanthangal    of   Tamil
          Wetlands  may  be  there  in      Nadu  was  declared  a  Ramsar
          any country, but they have to     Site in 2022. The entire credit for
          fulfill  many  criteria;  only  then   preserving the bird population
          are they declared as Ramsar       here goes to the farmers in the
          Sites. Ramsar Sites should have   neighbourhood. The Panzat Nag
          20,000 or more water birds. It    community in Kashmir spends
          is important to have a large      a  day specially  cleaning  the
          number  of  local  fish  species.   village spring during the Annual
          On 75 years of independence       Fruit Blossom festival. Most of the
          during the Amrit Mahotsav, I      Ramsar Sites also have a unique
          would like to share with you      cultural   heritage.   Manipur’s
          some good information related     culture  has  a  deep connection
          to Ramsar Sites. Now the total    with Loktak and the sacred lake
          number of Ramsar Sites in our     Renuka. Similarly, Sambhar is
          country  has  increased  to 75,   also related to Shakambhari
          whereas, before 2014 there        Devi, an incarnation of Maa
          were only 26 Ramsar Sites         Durga.   This  expansion   of
          in the country. For this, the     Wetlands  in  India  is  possible

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