Sangareddy: A team of IAS officers visited Manjeera wildlife sanctuary near Manjeera reservoir in Sangareddy district on Wednesday to recommend its candidature for the Ramsar Site recognition.
If granted, Manjeera reservoir would be recognised as a wetland of national and international importance. Currently, there are more than 2,400 Ramsar sites in the world. Ramsar is an Iranian city where the major wetlands convention was announced in 1971.
The team members observed the species of trees and birds and took note of the sanctuary’s unique features. State wetland authority member secretary and senior IAS officer Prashanti said the central government has taken up the Soubhagyata mission and conducted a two-day workshop in Hyderabad on the need for recognising new wetlands.
Prashanthi said Manjeera River has nice islands spread over 550 acres and they have around 300 bird species and 160 other creatures. They have already sent proposals for the Ramsar Site recognition for Manjeera wildlife sanctuary under biodiversity programmes, she explained.
District collector Kranthi Valluru said that Ramsar recognition for Manjeera wildlife sanctuary will get worldwide recognition. Every year, from monsoon to winter season, different kinds of bird species can be seen in the Manjeera river islands, she added.
The Ministry of environment, forest and climate change arranged the study tour for the IAS officers at Manjeera wildlife sanctuary. IAS officers Keerthi Mana Vasthi, Kalhersan, Dr Johns Mathew, Vikas Chandra Gupta, Srikanth, Dr Manoj, Chandram Singh, Ram Babu, Sangareddy district forest officer Sridhar and others were present.
