Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said that the Hirakud wetland in Odisha’s Sambalpur district recorded an arrival of 4.21 lakh birds this season, marking a sharp rise in both population and species diversity. In a social media post, Mr Pradhan said that the Hirakud wetland is emerging as a major winter haven for migratory birds. He further lauded the local communities for the sustained conservation efforts, aligning them with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of wetland and biodiversity conservation through jan-bhagidari.