`Save wetlands to win polls'

SAIFAI (ETAWAH): Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav asked the newly elected `pradhans' (village heads) to pledge for conservation of ponds and wetlands in the state and `ensure' another win for themselves. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the first international conference on “Conservation of sarus and wetlands" at Saifai, his native village in Etawah, on the occasion of World Wetland Day on Tuesday.“If you will conserve wetlands, you will win. If not, you will surely lose the next `pradhani' elections,“ the CM said laughingly and added, “I hope many of those who had encroached upon wetlands lost their `pradhani' in the recent panchayat elections."He praised the forest department for taking the initiative of holding an international conference in Saifai.“It could have taken place in `nawabi' city Lucknow, where people come in large number, but the forest department has chosen Saifai, for which I am thankful to them. It's a pleasure to be part of an event of international repute in my village," he said.As to why the conference was being held at Saifai, he said, “It is because of huge presence of sarus birds."He said if the wetlands were to dry up, not just aquatic birds but humans would also be affected. “The state government will boost investment in wetland protection and put more wetlands under state protection to save them from destruction, “ he said. “The immediate requirement is to save the environment, plant trees and make the environment better,“ he added.The two-day conference will end on Wednesday. Around 19 top international bird experts and 71 nature lovers, bird-watchers, besides ornithologists attended the conference on Tuesday.