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In a striking development, the Patna High Court has called on Bihar officials to clarify the status of the Kabar Tal wetland in Begusarai, a sprawling 14.2 thousand acres of natural heritage left vulnerable for 36 years post-protection declaration.
Patna: While hearing a PIL monitoring the “ground truthing” of three notified wetlands in Bihar, the Patna high court on Thursday asked the state authorities why Kabar Tal in Begusarai has not reclaimed its notified area of 14.2 thousand acres even 36 years after its protection under wildlife laws.
“Ground truthing” involves satellite survey and mapping of aquatic stretches, along with data collection on ecosystem and biodiversity for demarcation and conservation.A division bench comprising chief justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and justice Alok Kumar Sinha directed the state govt to submit its ATR and a timeline to make the entire lake stretch free from encroachment.Advocate general P K Shahi informed the court that district magistrates of Begusarai and Jamui held a meeting after verification of Nagi Dam and Nakati Lake bird sanctuaries in Jamui and Kabar Tal in Begusarai.
He said Jamui wetlands reported no encroachments, while Kabar Tal had encroachment issues.Advocate Dinu Kumar, representing Veterans Forum for Transparency in Public Life, submitted documents showing Kabar Tal was notified on June 20, 1989 with 15.78 thousand acres as wildlife area. Under Wetland Management Rules, 2017, satellite atlas data reflected only 1.56 thousand acres. “Thus 14.21 thousand acres of land is yet to be reclaimed for protection of Kabar wetland which is Asia's largest fresh water ox-bow shape lake,” he said.The matter will be heard again on April 15.
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