Boost green cover, conserve water bodies

Identify dying water bodies

With temperatures soaring each summer, animals and birds increasingly stray into foothills and urban fringes in search of water. This seasonal migration signals a deeper ecological crisis—the gradual drying up of traditional water sources in villages and forests. Rejuvenating ponds, khads and johads in villages can be a game-changer. These lifelines, now often encroached or polluted, need urgent revival. The government should fund desilting drives, create check dams and promote rainwater harvesting, especially through schemes like MGNREGA. Local panchayats and forest departments must identify dying water bodies and integrate them into conservation plans. On the other hand, citizens or urban local bodies can adopt ponds, contribute to maintenance, plant native trees along water edges and install simple water pots for birds and animals during peak summers. Urban support to rural water rejuvenation ensures not just wildlife survival but stronger ecosystems and water security for all. Conservation begins with collective action.

Aarti Rana Chauhan

Clean water sources regularly

Animals and birds of the city, once the pride of Punjab, are now slowly evacuating the region due to skyrocketing temperatures as summer approaches. Punjab’s wildlife is gradually retreating to its natural habitats, leaving behind desolate streets that echo with an unsettling silence, devoid of the cheerful chirping of birds and the melodious calls of cuckoos. The citizens of the province need to stop ignoring this formidable and devastating issue before it’s too late to change. There are many factors contributing to the forced migration of the birds. Firstly, many rivers and fresh water sources in the city are either polluted or are completely dry. In addition to this, pollution and smoke levels in the city are reaching dreadful levels, resulting in a temperature rise accompanied by nearly unbreathable air. All of this adds up to resulting in an environment unfit for any animal or mammal to survive in and hence, they move away from the populated areas in search of better living conditions. All people need to do is reverse all these factors. The streets and roads should be kept free from loitering, along with regular cleaning drives. Water sources should be thoroughly cleaned too and should be replenished with essential nutrients. Moreover, people should hang fresh water for the birds and animals in a shaded and isolated part of the rooftop of their homes and vicinity/property to aid the speechless animals. Last but not least, there should be fewer electric wires in the sky and less noise pollution in the atmosphere to recreate the perfect habitat for the birds. All of these steps are completely doable and extremely crucial to the return of the wildlife of Punjab to their homes.

Lakshit Jindal

Develop conservation strategies

Certainly, residents can play a significant role in reviving water bodies through collaboration with local administration, which can help support feathered friends and wildlife in coping with rising temperatures. This can be achieved by organising community efforts to clean and restore water bodies such as ponds, lakes, or wetlands in their surroundings. Implementing water-conservation measures is essential to ensure sufficient water flow into these bodies. Additionally, planting native vegetation around water bodies can provide shade, food and habitat for wildlife. Revived water bodies can serve as a reliable source of drinking water for birds; attract insects, fish and other aquatic life; serve as a food source for birds; and offer shelter, breeding grounds and habitat for various bird species. Community involvement, engaging residents, schools and organisations, is essential for the revival of water bodies. Collaboration with local bodies, NGOs and experts in developing effective conservation strategies and educating the public about the environmental benefits of reviving these water bodies can also prove beneficial. However, addressing encroachments by the land mafia and powerful individuals is an important consideration for the successful recovery of land for such water bodies. Political leadership and stringent administration with a strong will to tackle such issues are necessary to effectively implement this, which is not in sight yet in Punjab.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Take measures to increase green cover

The disappearance of water bodies from our region is one of the most disgusting instances of environmental degradation over time. It has adversely affected the ecological balance that nature had established among water, animals and plants. We must revive all such water bodies for the sustainable growth of wildlife and a healthy environment. First of all, we need to ensure that our rivers receive no more pollution through the untreated inflow of sewage, as per environmental norms. Secondly, rainwater harvesting must be institutionalised on a war footing to enhance groundwater levels. In rural areas, ponds should be revived where they have disappeared and existing ponds must be rejuvenated to ensure their sustainability. The rivulets and small streams that have disappeared over time need to be surveyed for their possible revival. Last, but very importantly, ongoing deforestation must be prevented at an alarming rate. The government must take effective measures to increase the green cover to the nationally stipulated level.

Jagdish Chander

Large-scale plantation is must

During scorching summers, many animals and birds move toward foothills in search of cooler temperatures and relief from the intense heat. Like humans, they too are vulnerable to dehydration and heatstroke. Often pets receive attentive care, but stray animals and birds need our compassion and immediate action during these harsh climatic conditions. Hilly areas, with their relatively moderate climate, offer some respite compared to the blazing temperatures in the plains. In earlier times, numerous village ponds, rivulets and small streams served as vital water sources—helping preserve rainwater and manage excess runoff. Unfortunately, many of these natural outlets have been encroached upon by residents or flattened for agricultural use. Even more alarming is the large-scale felling of trees—once natural sanctuaries for birds and animals—due to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure projects, resulting in a sharp decline in forest cover. While humans have developed various ways to shield themselves from extreme weather, wild creatures rely on khads, streams and scattered forest pools for survival. Not able to bear the fierce heat, many perish when these water bodies dry up, making it essential to take urgent steps to protect wildlife from the ongoing heatwaves. In this backdrop, reviving traditional water sources like rivulets and natural drainage systems is critical. Equally important is large-scale tree planting to restore ecological balance and mitigate the effects of global warming. In all earnest, preserving water bodies must become a priority in our collective efforts toward sustainable environmental protection and the safety of our feathered friends and wildlife. Land that was once reserved for water conservation and natural drainage must be freed from illegal encroachments—whether through community cooperation or necessary government intervention. Residents can play a vital role by placing earthen or plastic water containers in shaded areas for instant relief to birds and animals during summer heat. However, the most pragmatic way to support stray creatures is to adopt them and provide food and comfortable shelters for survival.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Place food for birds in scorching heat

During the pre-winter season, many migratory birds of various species, in flocks, migrate from Siberia and other countries like Russia, Kazakhstan to various destinations in India. These migratory birds are seen in large numbers at the lakes of Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam Reservoir, Harike Pattan Wetland, Roper, Natal Dam Reservoir and other places where there are ponds and wetlands. These birds, every year, come to India and return back to their native country in March. Migratory birds like spoonbills, painted storks, ruddy shelducks, bar-headed geese, graylag geese and brown-headed gulls visit here during the winters and return to their areas. Apart from this, many Indian birds live near the ponds. Here, the public and bird relations should be positive by providing food for local birds during the scorching heat when the mercury level increases. We all should also keep earthen pots on the rooftops filled with clear water for the birds to drink during the intense heat and provide food for them. Birds recognise those human beings who feed them daily and while enjoying the food, these birds keep themselves in a friendly mode with the person who feeds them. Sometimes, the birds are seen enjoying a water dip in the earthen pots placed on rooftops during heatwaves. It is our responsibility, on humanitarian grounds, to provide fresh water and food daily for the survival of species like crows, pigeons, vultures, as the sparrow, once known as “Chidiya,” seems to be missing. The revolution in communication and technology is causing the diminishing of sparrows and we must help maintain their presence.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Create new water sufficient spaces

The heatwave is fatal for the stray animals—dogs, cattle and birds which are dependent hugely on water resources, which are steadily ceding to major concretisation and ‘development’. This development sadly comes at a cost of posing more danger to natural habitats and the creatures which depend on it. The least humans can do is revive all the few urban water bodies available and create new such water sufficient spaces so that the animal kingdom still have their key means of sustenance in the summers—water.

Ashwini Sharma

Urban, rural planning needs revamp

Urban as well as rural planning models in cities in the state need a massive revamp. Pockets of forests and green areas should be revived at regular intervals in thickly populated areas and these should also have small water bodies – so that wildlife can at least have little habitats for repose. Not just animals, this will also insulate humans from the harsh climates in both summers and winters. Citizens themselves should also facilitate shelter and water for both stray populations and feathered friends to help their survival in summers.

Sunaina Trivedi

Punjab