Winter Silence at Harike; NGT Pulls up PPCB for Solid Waste Dumping

The once vibrant sanctuary—the Harike Patan wetlands, Tarn Taran district—is gradually losing both the number and diversity of its winged visitors according to a bird enthusiast who has been observing them for decades. Dr. Astha attributes this alarming trend to continuously warming winters, deteriorating habitat quality and rising pollution levels in the region that reduce the need for long-distance migration for the migratory bird population. Since temperature plays a crucial role in migration patterns, as winters become milder in breeding regions, birds remain closer to their native habitats. Rising maximum temperatures shorten the period of wetland suitability, accelerating early departures. Furthermore, water pollution in the Sutlej river—laden with industrial and agricultural waste—has degraded water quality and reduced fish availability, a crucial food source for migratory birds. The findings are based on data compiled from regional meteorological trends in Panjab. Additionally, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) for persistent illegal dumping of solid waste by the Municipal Council (MC), Sirhind, on Hansla Nadi (a rivulet), which it regards as a serious regulatory failure by the PPCB. NGT recorded that solid waste has been dumped without any consent or authorization on both sides of Hansla Nadi, which is a natural flood drain, in clear violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. NGT further noted that the MC Sirhind created another illegal dumping site at Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib district which it termed as a ‘gross violation’. This despite the USD 11K environmental compensation collected by PPCB from all 166 Urban Local Bodies (ULB) in Panjab to comply with solid waste management. The PPCB has imposed penalties of nearly USD 330K per month on ULBs for non-compliance since 1 Jul 2020. The increasing problem of waste management is interlinked with water. Dumping everyday waste in canals and rivers is becoming commonplace, especially in the absence of a waste management system. On 2 Feb, on the eve of World Wetlands Day, environmentalists raised a strong and unified call to protect wetlands, small rivers, village ponds, and natural water bodies at a conference held on the banks of the sacred Kali Bein rivulet in Kapurthala district (earlier coverage).