Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Agra in Uttar Pradesh is home to more than 160 bird species, including endangered ones like black-necked stork, painted stork, oriental darter, oriental white ibis, spot-billed pelican and Dalmatian pelican
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
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Sarus crane, the state bird of Uttar Pradesh, is also found in plenty in the sanctuary that comprises of Keetham Lake, around 18 km from Agra, and the surrounding land
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
Read story: Bully among birds
During an inspection in 2012, an environmentalist had found that sewage and other effluents were being discharged into the lake by two colleges, leading to water pollution and siltation
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
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In 2006, the government had made it mandatory for projects with a construction area of more than 20,000 square metres to get an environmental clearance. If such a project falls within 10 km of a national park or wildlife sanctuary, it requires an additional approval. None of these approvals were taken by SGI for its campus at Soor Sarovar
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
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A college campus that was subsequently built in the sanctuary allegedly violated the law to occupy land inside the sanctuary. Despite orders from the forest department and the Allahabad High Court to vacate the land more than a year ago, the college continues to function, in connivance with the state authorities
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
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The campus today hosts more than 5,000 students, hostels, a stadium, labs and administrative buildings
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
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All was well here until mid-1990s when The Sharda Group of Institutions bought private land stretching from NH2 (which connects Delhi to Agra) to Keetham lake and got the land use changed from “agricultural” to “commercial” to construct colleges
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
Read story: Bully among birds
There have also been occasional media reports about the death of fish and turtles in the lake because of the polluted water
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
Read story: Bully among birds
Since 2003, several notices have been issued to the college and investigations are still on
Photograph by Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
Read story: Bully among birds
