Jharkhand: Asian bird census at Latratu dam in Khunti 

Ranchi, February 11: Jharkhand Biodiversity Board in collaboration Wetland International will start Asian water bird census at Latratu Dam located in Karra block of Khunti district from Saturday. 
The Asian water bird census work will be done on February 12. At the same time, education and awareness programs of local biodiversity management committees will also be organized. 
Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Department, L.Khyangte, Principal Chief Forest Guard-cum-Forest Force Chief AK Rastogi, Principal Chief Forest Guard-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden Ashish Rawat who is also the chairman of Jharkhand Biodiversity Board and  Deputy Commissioner of Khunti Shashi Ranjan along with other senior forest and administrative officers attend a function to mark the start of the census. 

The program will start with documentary films and slide shows on biodiversity. Counting of birds will be done in the wetland of Latratu Dam from 10:00 AM to 12:30 AM. For this, counting of birds will be done by forming separate groups.

In this program school children from rural areas around Latratu Dam, members of local Biodiversity Management Committees, people interested in environment-conservation, bird experts, biodiversity education and people interested in this regard will participate.

Apart from this, about 40 forest guards and senior forest officers from different divisions of the entire state who are getting training in Khunti district administration, Block Development Officer, Karra, and Forester Training School, Mahilong (Ranchi) will also participate in the program.

Incidentally, Jharkhand Biodiversity Board (JBB) is an autonomous and statutory body under the Department of Forests, Environment & Climate Change, Government of Jharkhand with its Head Quarter at Ranchi. The JBB is dedicated into conservation and protection of the biodiversity of the State.

Wetlands International is a global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. Wetlands are the source of water that supports all forms of life. 

Incidentally, chief minister Hemant Soren had been stressing on conservation of wildlife and flora and fauna at wetland and also for conservation of wetlands to prevent water crisis in the state.