The Himachal Pradesh Government has submitted an ambitious Rs 1,800-crore project for the ecological, sustainable and integrated development of the Pong wetland in Kangra district to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Government of India, for approval. The wetland had attained international recognition due to its bird sanctuary and was declared an international wetland Ramsar site in 2002. The project had been envisaged by Kangra MP Chander Kumar when he was the state Forest Minister and mooted by the wildlife wing of the Department of Forests.