Parmod Sharma, Chandigarh,17June:I visited Rewalsar, it is situated 20 km North of Mandi, a small town with an important historic Gurdwara on one side and an old monastery on the other and a Hindu temple in the middle. The most enchanting charm there is a lake in the middle. Besides pilgrims, many tourists from distant lands and countries also visit the place. Rewalsar wetland is also included in the list of wetlands of National importance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. This is the third site in the state, after the Renuka and Chander Tal wetlands, which have been given the status.
Presently the Rewalsar wetland is facing an ecological crisis and man-made disaster. The government is supposed to pay attention to the natural lake for the promotion of tourism and retaining people’s faith enriching social development and boosting its economy. On June 16, 2008 after heavy rains hundreds of fish died in the lake, one can see in the morning people fearing infection themselves clearing the dead fish from the lake. Some people say that water has gone toxic due to nutrients and pesticides that run off from agricultural fields during the rainy season, others are of opinion that devotees offer too much of wheat flour, biscuits and other such foodstuff to fish which not only pollutes the water but also threatens the existence of aquatic fauna.
The feedback from environmentalists and naturalists reveals that pollution, encroachments, overgrowth of weeds and siltation are pushing the Rewalsar wetlands towards certain death. The Himachal Pradesh Government, despite being aware of the threats, has failed to formulate any plan to protect the natural water body that has religious and ecological importance. The general complaint of residents is that the Himachal Pradesh Government has never paid adequate attention and given publicity to this quiet hill resort.