One of Asia's biggest wetlands, Keshopur Chamb, which was on the verge of extinction owing to an assortment of reasons, has got a fresh lease of life with a booster dose of Rs 8.10 crore. The wetland, spread over an area of 850 acres and renowned for attracting migratory birds from as far as Central Asia, Russia and Siberia, has been in a poor state. But the state government has now prepared an elaborate plan to resurrect it. The project, which is to be jointly implemented by the Ministries of Tourism, Wildlife and Forests and the district administration, aims at developing the area into a major eco-tourist spot by conserving its ecological sensitivity and simultaneously generating revenue by providing employment to locals. Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Trikha said: "Thousands of migratory birds used to visit the area every winter, either in search of food or to escape the harsh weather conditions at their native habitat. However, because of an assortment of reasons, both natural and man-made, the birds have stopped coming, which is very disturbing. We will be spending Rs 10 lakh to plant 3,000 saplings over the next three years while a sum of Rs 35 lakh has been earmarked for removing weeds. We will spend Rs 30 lakh on de-silting and on nature trails." A Tourist Interpretation Centre is also being established in Matwa village (at a cost of Rs 71.58 lakh) over an area of 3 acres, just across the wetland. An 8 km-long-nature trail, which will be a boon for trekkers, will be constructed at a cost of Rs 22 lakh. However, the road leading to the wetland from Gurdaspur is full of potholes and work on recarpeting the road is yet to commence. The project Rs 10 lakh to be spent on planting 3,000 saplings over the next three years Rs 35 lakh earmarked for removing weeds Rs 30 lakh will be spent on de-silting and nature trails Rs 71.58 lakh on Tourist Interpretation Centre at Matwa village Rs 22 lakh on an 8 km-long-nature trail, which will be a boon for trekkers ministry of