MARGAO: The Environment Department has reconstituted the Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA).
The newly formed GSWA, comprising 24 members, will be chaired by the Environment Minister, with the Chief Secretary serving as the Vice-Chairperson. Among its members are senior officials from departments such as Forests, Urban Development, Rural Development, Water Resources, Fisheries, Tourism, and Revenue.
Significantly, the Authority has enlisted the expertise of various distinguished professionals and representatives from civil society to offer technical guidance and on-the-ground insights. Notable figures include Dr Jose Romeno Faleiro (IPM specialist), Dr Manoj Ibrampurkar (Dhempe College), Dr Baban Ingole (NCPOR), James Mathew (former Chief Town Planner), Prof Pranab Mukhopadhyay (Goa University), Chintamani Perni (former Agriculture Department Dy Director), Ketak Nachinolkar (Conservation Architect), and Elsa Fernandes (Lecturer, Government Polytechnic College).
The appointed non-official expert members are designated for a tenure of three years, with the Environment Director serving as the Member Secretary.
This reconstituted GSWA replaces its predecessor, established in 2021, and is committed to fulfilling the directives of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding the identification of all wetlands across the state.
GSWA had recently communicated to NGT about its ongoing endeavour to officially designate 35 more wetlands within the State in the next two years. Once completed, this initiative will increase the total number of notified wetlands in Goa to 50.
