GREATER NOIDA: Even though Surajpur has been granted wetland status, at least six marshes in its vicinity are slowly falling prey to pollution and waste dumping. Environmentalists have called for urgent measures to save these low-lying areas that typically remains waterlogged at all times.The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had on September 14 refused to grant wetland status to these six marshes though it brought under protection the 60 hectare low-lying area within the 308 hectare reserve forest in Surajpur while disposing of a 2016 petition by environmentalists.TOI visited the area on Wednesday and found the marshes covered with hyacinth and garbage. The Greater Noida police lines are being constructed adjacent to these marshes.“Several industries in the region were found to be letting their toxic wastes out into these marshes. These marshes are good natural habitats for birds and water creatures and they should be protected. Pollution of these areas should be stopped,” said Vikrant Tongad, founder, Social Action for Forests and Environment (SAFE).“These low-lying areas should be cleaned and boundaries should be created so that encroachment doesn’t take place. These are the green lungs that protect our environment and have far reaching impact in preserving ecological balance,” he added.When contacted, officials of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board said an inspection would soon be done to check any garbage being dumped into the marshes. “We need to identify the source of the garbage and stop it accordingly. We will not allow toxic waste flowing into these waterbodies or dumping of garbage as we are trying to conserve them the marshes,” an official said.However, Tongad said, “Google Earth pictures and wetland directories do mark these areas as unprotected wetlands and we want that some conservation be be done so that these areas do not fall prey to construction and garbage dumping activities in future. Non-recyclable waste which are being thrown into these marshes would eventually turn the water toxic by damaging the entire habitat.”The wetland of Surajpur itself is a 60 hectare portion which is a destination for foreign birds from Asia and Europe during the migratory season. The wetland has been home to 186 species of birds from 44 families, of which 102 species are resident, 53 are winter migrants and 28 summer migrants.“Conservation of Surajpur is no doubt crucial for the entire region as it is a major green lung. But we must take note of several such low-lying areas which are not recognized or marked but should be recorded as wetlands simply to help conservation activity to take ground,” Tongad earlier said.

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