Gonda, Feb. 2 -- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday highlighted the significant progress made in wetland conservation and said that while only 23 wetland sites were recognised in the first 65 years of India's Independence, 63 new sites have been recognised in the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Speaking at the World Wetlands Day programme held at the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary in Gonda, CM Yogi emphasised the need for continuous efforts to preserve these sites and recognised their potential to generate local employment through tourism.

"Since 65 years of Independence, only 23 wetland sites were recognised. But, in the last 10 years, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, 63 new sites ...