A first: Wetlands watchdog soon

[Mrudul Godbole]

Some good news for our Wetlands. Read this news in TOI.


A first: Wetlands watchdog soon

With around one-third of the country's wetlands wiped out or severely degraded, the Centre is planning to set up a legally enforceable regulatory mechanism for the conservation of these ecologically sensitive areas as called for in the National Environmental Policy of 2006.

The draft framework prohibits conversion of wetland into a non-wetland area, expansion or establishment of industry, dumping of waste or soil, and permanent construction other than a boat jetty.

Permission will be needed for construction of jetties, withdrawal of water and plying of motor boats. Categorization of wetlands is also proposed, for oversight by central, state or district authorities.

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/h...ow/5983362.cms

[Sabyasachi Patra]

It is good that we finally have a regulatory mechanism. Our wetlands are perhaps the most misunderstood and violated ecosystems. People call them wastelands, and are ready to start constructions. State Governments even encourage industries to come up in the wetlands. We are unmindful of the importance of the wetlands. Unfortunately, in the draft the categorisation of wetlands into A, B and C categories and handing over the jurisdiction to even district level authorities is going to sound a death knell on wetlands. This is going to be a major flaw in the other wise good draft and is going to be exploited. Will the district officials stand up and say no to political pressure? I am sure, a lot of our wetlands will soon die. So the classification of wetlands should be stopped and there should be one single regulatory body.

For example, in the Telineelapuram case ie. the setting up a mega power plant in Telineelapuram ie in the Naupada swamps of Andhra Pradesh, even before environmental clearance the local ministers had visited the site for and dumping of mud had started to change the character of the place. I hope the ministry understands these concerns and brings in adequate changes.

Sabyasachi

[Lakshminarayanan Nataraja]

A welcome move. This proposal should not be aborted half-way.

Our wetlands are the most exploited as rightly said, completely misunderstood.

With water-table alarmingly decreasing, wet-land conservation is the only hope for regeneration.