Saman Bird Sanctuary to get tourism boost as UP Cabinet approves land transfer

Cabinet clears land transfer for visitor facilities

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the transfer of six hectares of gram sabha land to the tourism department for developing visitor facilities near Saman Bird Sanctuary in Mainpuri, according to The Times of India. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, as reported by Hindustan Times. The land is in Saman village of Mainpuri's Kisni tehsil.

The state government said the move paves the way for expanding tourist facilities near the internationally recognised wetland. Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said, "UP has immense potential in eco-tourism and its bird sanctuaries are an important part of the state's natural heritage. Better visitor facilities near Saman will help attract birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts from India and abroad while creating employment and self-employment opportunities for locals."

The village land management committee had passed a resolution on December 20, 2024, allowing the land to be used for tourism development, and the Mainpuri district magistrate forwarded the proposal to the tourism directorate on January 9, 2026. The land is being transferred free of cost, so the decision will not place any additional financial burden on the state government.

Renaming the sanctuary

Hindustan Times reported that the site will now be known as Mayank Rishi Bird Sanctuary. This detail was not mentioned in The Times of India's report. The UP government gave a statement saying that the decision will connect the area with tourism facilities and attract tourists from India and abroad.

The sanctuary's significance

Saman Bird Sanctuary, located in the Gangetic plains, is a seasonal lake and a Ramsar Site. It was notified in 1990 to protect the sarus crane population and is spread over about 5.3 square kilometres, as per The Times of India. It received Ramsar recognition in 2019. The wetland is a habitat for a number of bird species, including common teal, northern pintail, great white pelican and several species of storks.

Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that during the migratory season, numerous species of birds arrive at the sanctuary from different parts of the country as well as from abroad. The seasonal lake has become an attraction for birdwatchers, nature lovers and photography enthusiasts, according to Hindustan Times.

Hindustan Times also listed several other bird sanctuaries in UP, including Chandrashekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary, Sandi Bird Sanctuary in Hardoi, Bakhira Bird Sanctuary in Sant Kabir Nagar, Vijay Sagar Bird Sanctuary in Mahoba, Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary in Hamirpur and Samaspur Bird Sanctuary in Agra. It said that the UP government is focusing on developing bird sanctuaries by incorporating them into national and international birdwatching circuits and creating facilities such as watchtowers, signage, solar lighting and biodiversity study centres. Action plans are being prepared for conservation of migratory birds and convenience of tourists.

The decision complements Mainpuri's Sarus Tourism Circuit, a conservation tourism initiative that identifies wetlands with regular sightings of the sarus crane. The transfer is aimed at enhancing facilities for tourists, birdwatchers and photographers, with the sanctuary remaining a key spot in Uttar Pradesh for spotting the state bird.

The two reports highlight different aspects: one focuses on the renaming and the government's tourism statement, while the other provides detailed procedural background and the tourism minister's quote. Both describe the decision as beneficial for eco-tourism and conservation. The sanctuary's status as a Ramsar site is mentioned in both accounts.