India, June 15 -- A group of birders and environmental stakeholders has sought urgent reforms in the maintenance practices of the Okhla Barrage in a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh Forest and Irrigation departments, for reducing ecological harm to the nearby Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

The proposal, supported by 78 signatories under the name "Okhla Bird Sanctuary Conservation Collective", highlights repeated drainage and complete drying of the sanctuary during barrage repair and maintenance cycles are causing significant ecological stress to the wetland ecosystem, which supports over 300 bird species, including both migratory waterbirds and resident birds.

On behalf of the Collective, Shalini Singh, founder Ecojeev Life Foundation, urged both d...