To,

Mr. Manmohan Singh,
Hon. Prime Minister of India,
Secretariat, South Block,
New Delhi.

Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests,CGO Complex, Paryavaran Bhavan,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003.

Smt. Vasundhara Raje
Chief Minister of Rajasthan
Tel.: 2380351, 2380462
Fax: 2381687

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to bring to your notice the plight of the Keoladeo National Park, which if unattended to will have long lasting repercussions on both ecology and people. The Park, as you may be aware, plays host to over 350 species of birds and has been declared a World Heritage Site. Migrating birds including the famed Siberian Crane, Sarus Crane, Black Necked Stork, Sociable Lapwing, Pallas’ Fishing Eagle, Marshall’s Iora and the Greater Adjutant visit the wetlands year after year. However, successive droughts, largely the result of poor land management, have caused the land to get parched to the extent that migratory birds have stopped visiting these wetlands altogether.

It becomes imperative to keep in mind both the history and its ecological importance:

1. The Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur was originally a duck shooting reserve for royalty, which was declared a bird sanctuary in 1956. In 1985 it won UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status. The wetlands also enjoy the status of a Ramsar Site, making it a wetland of global importance.

2. It may be noted that the Park has been facing the wrath of droughts in the past few years and the situation worsened. In fact, in 2001 when the endangered Siberian Cranes failed to arrive at Bharatpur, warnings were raised, but ignored.

3. Poor rainfall during 2004 has led to an immense stress on insects, birds, fish, snakes and other such life forms on which birds depend. The park normally receives water from the Ajan bund, which is fed by the Ghambir and Banganga rivers. This year, water was channelled for the irrigation of land.

4. Droughts are accepted as part of the normal cycle of nature. However, the present scenario is extremely worrisome considering that the nesting activity is at its lowest and worse still, resident birds abandoning the region for greener pastures.

5. The Park unfortunately is only equipped with rickety pumps and in spite of sanction from the Central Government, bureaucracy has ensured that the job remain incomplete.

6. Another worrisome factor is that over 5,000 cattle have been allowed to enter the Park, further worsening the situation.

7. One by-product of this disaster is that hundreds of rickshaw pullers and guides are facing penury.

I request you to release the required amount of water in the Park to ensure that birds start returning before it is too late. Long term solutions would include making a provision of an adequate number of water pumps, which should be maintained. What is even more essential is that locals be educated about the ecological and economic importance.

Sincerely,