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bird hunters including diplomats from various international embassies located in Delhi, India's capital. Delhi
Administration officials were tasked with declaring about 25km stretch of the drain in rural delhi, including where is passes through the core area of the now drained Najafgarh Lake, "protected" under the "Wildlife Act" after Lt.-Governor of Delhi Mr. H.L. Kapur was invited to the area for touring the site where he also heard accounts of local villagers about the rampant illegal hunting of waterbirds that went on here every year. The existing staff of the Flood Control and Irrigation Department numbering about 40 were also given the additional responsibility of protecting the wildlife on and around the drain.
257:. There have been some plans since to at least resurrect a much smaller lake in the area. Most of the Najafgarh jheel basin lands have increased many folds in their value owing to them coming within Delhi, India's capital territory and are under ownership of farmers who may want to make a fast buck selling them to developers who want to convert the former lake basin into housing complexes as has already been happening with major housing colonies coming up in the region. If Najafgarh drain, which was built to drain the original Najafgarh lake or jheel, ever breaches its wide embankments it will flood these developed lands and housing colonies owing to them spread all over the former low lying jheel or lake basin.
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table in the dry months and the effect of draining this vast lake on local climate largely went unnoticed and undiscussed as the general public, the media and news agencies or the related environment departments were largely unaware and oblivious of what was happening and its long-term effects. Even now the fact that a vast lake ever existed here in the region and the current need for resurrecting it remains largely an unknown little discussed issue. The complete draining of the lake caused the great loss of a rich wetland ecosystem and wildlife habitat and led to the water table in the entire region to going down which has in turn led to the area becoming more and more
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villagers were employed as guides and assisted with the camping duties in the hunting camps. Local villagers still alive till the end of last century remembered many cars of
British colonial officers congregating at the edge of the lake for duck shoots. In those decades bygone, along with the rich wildlife inhabiting the region here also lived the now presumably extinct famous
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its embankments with an inspection road running on one embankment. During the winter months it attracts vast quantities of migratory birds and also supports local wildlife yearlong. Due to the rich wildlife observed in and around the less polluted stretch of the drain outside of congested populated areas it has been proposed as a Bird
Sanctuary for Delhi.
239:. The reason provided by the department was saving Delhi from floods. This widening led to the eventually drainage of, the once huge and ecologically rich, Najafgarh lake. Rainwater accumulating in the Najafgarh lake or jheel basin had been recorded to have occupied more than 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) in many years before its draining.
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The drain has been much widened over the years to drain all the water which in earlier decades used to collect in the
Nagafgarh Jheel basin this was supposedly done to remove the threat of flooding in Delhi and now the drain itself acts as an elongated water body or lake with trees planted on both
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Before the unfortunate complete draining of this lake in the 1960s by widening of the
Najafgarh Drain by the flood control and irrigation department of Delhi the lake in many years filled up a depression more than 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) in rural Delhi. It had an extremely rich
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for Delhi. The area came to be recognized as an important wildlife habitat after a local naturalist studying the area during 1986-88 called attention to it recommending it to be conserved as a bird sanctuary after which the Delhi wildlife department posted 16 guards in the area to control illegal
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for this densely populated region. However, at the time of the draining of the lake in the 1960s or in the decades that followed the issue of destroying the rich wetland ecosystem and wildlife habitat of the lake, its ecological value and its value as a water reservoir recharging the local water
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in southwest Delhi and within urbanized Delhi it is the Indian
Capital's most polluted water body due to direct inflow of untreated sewage from surrounding populated areas. A January 2005 report by the Central Pollution Control Board clubs this drain with 13 other highly polluted wetlands under
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In the huge
Najafgarh jheel that existed here, a very rich wetland ecosystem flourished with rich local and migratory bird life; and in the surrounding lands there was plenty of local wildlife. Large hunting parties of local and British colonial elites descended on the lake yearly, many local
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Land costs have skyrocketed and builders and developers have converged on this area which falls within Delhi, land use is changing from farming to housing colony urban development. However, in case if the
Najafgarh Drain ever breaches its man-made and fortified embankments during the
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With recent advances in ecological understanding it has become clear that draining of this vast lake affected the entire climate of this important region that is India's capital territory of Delhi and its neighborhood, it also led to the underground water table going down leading to
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ACTION PLAN, ABATEMENT OF POLLUTION IN CRITICALLY POLLUTED AREA OF NAJAFGARH DRAN BASIN INCLUDING OKHLA, NARAINA, ANAND PARBAT AND WAZIRPUR INDL AREAS, DELHI POLLUTION CONTROL COMMITTEE, 4th Floor, ISBT Building, Kashmere Gate, Delhi-6, March,
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to River Yamuna in which it outfalls here. Within Delhi it is erroneously called "Najafgarh drain" or "Najafgarh nullah"', it gets this name from the once famous and huge
Najafgarh Jheel (lake) near the town of
407:, wildcat, common fox, jackal, monitor lizards, various varieties of snakes etc. which also come for shelter into the forested embankments of the drain and disperse into the neighbouring farmland for foraging.
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After the complete draining of the lake in the 1960s the former lake basin was converted into farmland first and by now various large scale housing projects occupy the former lake basin including vikaspuri,
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which has all but vanished from the Indian subcontinent now. Till before independence many
British colonial officers and dignitaries came in large parties for waterfowl hunting every season.
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BLUE DELHI DECLARATION, White Paper on: Aiming for Sustainability and Self Sufficiency in Delhi Water Management – Evaluating Delhi's Current Water Assets vis a vis their Utilisation
888:, 2006. India Disaster Management Congress.IIPA Campus, IP Estate, Near ITO Road, New Delhi. National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
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Farmland with very little disturbance acts as an important bird habitat in the Najafgarh lake basin, even fields lying fallow are used by hundreds of congregating
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wetland ecosystem forming a refuge for vast quantities of waterbirds and local wildlife. The lake was one of the last habitats of the famed and endangered
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of which records exist of having been shot here by the hunters and bird-watchers recorded the presence of rare Siberian cranes that no more visit India.
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can be seen in the adjoining farmland along the Najafgarh drain. Other resident wild bird and animals also inhabit these farmlands including hares,
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Najafgarh marsh: "The (Najafgarh) marsh was a favored duck-shoot ground of the British, but was eventually drained out into the Najafgarh Nallah."
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Najafgarh marsh: "The (Najafgarh) marsh was a favored duck-shoot ground of the British, but was eventually drained out into the Najafgarh Nallah."
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by a natural shallow nullah or drain called the Najafgarh nullah. However, after the 1960s the Flood Control Department of Delhi kept widening the
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facebook: Checklist of the Birds of the Najafgarh Jheel Region - Including adjoining areas of Dhansa Barrage and the Najafgarh Drain in Delhi
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787:, by Asit Nema of Foundation for Greentech Environmental Systems1 and Dr. Lalit Agrawal of Tokyo Engineering Consultants, Japan2
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by Sharma G, Mehra NK, Kumar R. Source Limnology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi-1 10 007, India.
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Biodegradation of wastewater of Najafgarh drain, Delhi using autochthonous microbial consortia : a laboratory study.
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on several kilometers of less polluted Najafgarh drain in rural Delhi before entering the main city including the former
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Flood Problem due to Sahibi River, Department of Irrigation and Flood Control, Government of NCT of Delhi, India.
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Siberian crane Grus leucogeranus: Delhi - Najafgarh lake (Najafgarh jheel), undated (Hume and Marshall 1879–1881)
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Flood Problem due to Sahibi River, Department of Irrigation and Flood Control, Government of NCT of Delhi, India.
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Proposal for ground water recharge in National Capital Region (NCR) by Dr. S. K. Sharma, Ground water expert
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Proposal for groundwater recharge in National Capital Region - A report by SK Sharma and Green Systems
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WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN NAJAFGARH DRAINAGE BASIN – KEY TO WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN RIVER YAMUNA
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944:, Submitted by samir Nazareth on 22 April 2011, India waterportal - Safe, sustainable water for all
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A search for archived News Articles on Najafgarh Drain on the India Envirinmental Portal website
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U-turn: Haryana will identify Najafgarh lake as wetland, TNN, Times of India, 7 January 2017
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Discussion: !!!300 SqKm [sic] of Lake near Gurgaon !!! A Total Surprise
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DRAFT ZONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PLANNING ZONE- 'L', Overview, Map and Villages in L-Zone.
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How Sultanpur happened: Sultanpur and Najafgarh Jheels - by Peter Jackson
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Development of major housing colonies in the former Najafgarh lake basin
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sns.sahilgmailcom 11/1/2010, SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, Delhi
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URBAN FLOODING DEMOGRAPHY AND URBANIZATION by Shashikant Nishant Sharma
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for assessing the water quality of wetlands in wildlife habitats.
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A Search for: Najafgarh drain on the Google group "delhibirdpix"
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Strategy Framework for Delhi beyond the Commonwealth Games 2010
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Strategy Framework for Delhi beyond the Commonwealth Games 2010
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Farmlands in the Najafgarh lake basin area an important habitat
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where it is channelized due to flood control purposes, it is a
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CHAPTER J.- DESCRIPTIVE· pages from the Gazeteers, Delhi, 1912
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Najafgarh drain 11th among highly polluted industrial clusters
231:, from which it takes its name. It was connected to the river
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Planning Zone-L, West Zone –III of Master Plan of Delhi 2021
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facebook Topic: Delhi - Najafgarh Drain Birdwatching Report
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Groundwater to be recharged at Najafgarh, Mungeshwar drains
969:, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India
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No more water-logging at airport with new drain in place
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Environment minister raises a stink over Najafgarh jheel
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Gurgaon polluting Najafgarh drain, draws Minister's ire
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FLOOD CONTROL - The National Capital Territory of Delhi
753:, GN BUREAU, NEW DELHI, MARCH 17, 2010, Governance Now
875:, New Delhi, 03/11/2011, Hindustan Times. Also see
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Najafgarh drain causes less pollution in Yamuna now
955:Recorded Forests (Notified Forest Areas in Delhi)
534:Blot across the Capital: Najafgarh most polluted
23:. For bird sanctuary and wetland ecosystem, see
19:This article is about lake. For the drain, see
854:, New Delhi, 29 December 2006, Hindustan Times
852:Walls to be constructed around Najafgarh drain
639:DTTDC to develop bird sanctuary near Najafgarh
223:, used to be a vast lake in the south west of
8:
842:, 19 08 2010, Delhi Edition, Hindustan Times
751:Action plans on polluted areas in Delhi soon
300:means drain) is just another name for the
66:Learn how and when to remove these messages
873:Winged visitors are back at Najafgarh Lake
866:, by Rajesh Kumar, New Delhi, 27/07/2006,
810:'Reviving old ponds way out of water woes'
745:'Reviving old ponds way out of water woes'
658:Migratory birds are giving Delhi the go-by
561:Najafgarh basin Delhi's most polluted area
967:Irrigation & Flood Control Department
196:Learn how and when to remove this message
178:Learn how and when to remove this message
123:Learn how and when to remove this message
930:New camp to jazz up tourism in city soon
848:, New Delhi, 17 December 2009, The Hindu
370:and has been earmarked to be declared a
796:'Part of Najafgarh drain to be covered'
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243:Need for recreation of the drained lake
936:Delhiites to cool off with aqua sports
932:, 19 April 2010, Asian Age (New Delhi)
563:, 25 December 2009, The Indian Express
551:, 22 February 2005, The Indian Express
219:(Jheel in Hindi means a lake), fed by
648:, 12 January 2003, The Indian Express
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675:, 20 August 2006, The Indian Express
326:Bird Sanctuary and wetland ecosystem
860:, 10 March 2007, The Indian Express
812:, 9 August 2003, The Indian Express
747:, 9 August 2003, The Indian Express
920:City to get its 1st bird sanctuary
359:area is very important habitat to
150:tone or style may not reflect the
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886:URBAN FLOODING AND ITS MANAGEMENT
840:Birds are back at Najafgarh Jheel
618:URBAN FLOODING AND ITS MANAGEMENT
597:, 4 July 2006, The Indian Express
304:which continues its flow through
261:Pre-draining history: A vast lake
47:This article has multiple issues.
160:guide to writing better articles
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103:has been specified. Please help
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673:Najafgarh jheel may chirp again
477:, bordering Delhi in adjoining
468:, bordering Delhi in adjoining
55:or discuss these issues on the
798:, 12 September 2009, The Hindu
461:National Zoological Park Delhi
455:Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary
332:Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary
25:Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary
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997:- Indian Real Estate Forum
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93:to meet Knowledge (XXG)'s
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274:Najafgarh drain or nullah
763:Delhi Master Plan 2021:
713:, BY DANNY CHERIAN, 2004
575:, 25 December 2009, The
536:, Sunday, 10 July 2005,
512:, BY DANNY CHERIAN, 2004
475:Sultanpur National Park
154:used on Knowledge (XXG)
961:Tourism Infrastructure
438:Bhalswa horseshoe lake
158:See Knowledge (XXG)'s
986:, by Sajit P. Mohanan
644:15 April 2013 at the
623:28 July 2011 at the
593:11 July 2006 at the
105:improve this article
16:Lake in Delhi, India
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836:by Arun Kumar Singh
834:Delhi's Watery Woes
769:Najafgarh Lake Area
660:, 17 January 2010,
227:, near the town of
709:2013-10-29 at the
538:The Indian Express
508:2013-10-29 at the
1053:Wetlands of India
1024:28.504°N 76.944°E
393:demoiselle cranes
381:pink-headed ducks
366:as well as local
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926:(New Delhi)
868:The Pioneer
767:- Note the
445:town, Delhi
418:Uttam Nagar
399:, pairs of
107:if you can.
1042:Categories
1015:76°56′38″E
1012:28°30′14″N
489:References
364:waterbirds
52:improve it
924:Asian Age
662:The Hindu
443:Najafgarh
361:migratory
345:ecosystem
318:category
315:Najafgarh
310:tributary
229:Najafgarh
58:talk page
707:Archived
642:Archived
621:Archived
591:Archived
506:Archived
432:See also
368:wildlife
88:require
483:Haryana
457:, Delhi
451:, Delhi
342:wetland
90:cleanup
405:nilgai
294:nullah
233:Yamuna
306:Delhi
298:Hindi
225:Delhi
893:2011
395:and
347:and
340:The
284:The
255:arid
355:or
296:in
288:or
215:or
99:No
1044::
832:,
825:,
822:,
804:,
736:,
724:,
627:,
481:,
320:D
211:,
61:.
292:(
199:)
193:(
181:)
175:(
170:)
166:(
156:.
126:)
120:(
115:)
111:(
97:.
68:)
64:(
27:.
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