Red shank only visitor to Gzb's City Forest

GHAZIABAD: Teams of officials from the forest department, the Ghaziabad Development Authority, NGOs and student volunteers, who on Friday flocked to the Ghaziabad City Forest to carry out a census of migratory birds, were a disappointed lot.
The common red shank, a migrant from China and Tibet, was the only visitor to the forest, which was inaugurated last year.An official of the forest department said the lack of clean water in the city was the main reason behind the weak turnout.
"Although the forest comprises about 1,300 acres of green cover, the only water bodies available for birds are portions of the highly polluted Hindon river. There are no fish or aquatic life in the river for them to eat, and neither can the highly polluted water be used for drinking," said Joga Singh, Ghaziabad divisional forest officer.
When asked about the progress of cleaning of ponds and the river, as announced earlier by the GDA, Singh said, "These things are very long-drawn out and complicated."
The GDA also has no plans to create artificial ponds for the winged migrants. "Creating artificial ponds is not easy. Things will only change if the Hindon is cleaned up," said S P Sisodia, horticulture officer, GDA.