Ballia, June 6: The Jayaprakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, popularly known as Surha Tal, has been officially designated as a Wetland of International Importance, marking a major milestone for environmental conservation in Uttar Pradesh.
The announcement establishes the Ballia district sanctuary as the 100th Ramsar Site in India and the 13th within the state. This designation follows a series of recent environmental milestones for Uttar Pradesh, which saw the Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah and the Shekha Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh receive identical international protection status earlier this year.
“Residents of the state are proud that Surha Tal has become the country’s 100th Ramsar Site,” Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh stated. He noted that the new status will help attract global environmental enthusiasts and ornithologists directly to the region, creating fresh employment opportunities for local communities.
To accommodate the projected increase in international and domestic visitors, the Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board is currently executing infrastructure upgrades valued at over ₹4.99 crore. The development work, centered around nearby Mairitar village, includes the construction of bird-watching towers, an open-air theatre, walking paths, an interpretation gallery, and specialized seating for wildlife photographers.
The sanctuary serves as a vital ecological habitat, supporting a diverse population of resident birds alongside hundreds of migratory species that arrive during the colder months. State officials affirmed that the international declaration will help secure funding for intensified conservation efforts, improve local water security, and protect the fragile regional biodiversity.
