Team Herald
PANJIM: The Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) has directed the Goa government to prepare a comprehensive inventory of wetlands within the next six months, while recommending activities that would be regulated and permitted within the notified wetlands.
The Ministry has prohibited conversion, encroachment of wetlands and also setting up of industrial units and dumping of solid waste at the notified areas.
As per the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment released by MoEF in 2011-12, Goa has 383 wetland areas with rivers and streams leading the chart. Nearly 44 percent of the wetland area is covered by rivers or streams. The State, in its Budget proposal, had announced it would undertake an exhaustive survey to identify wetlands and draft a policy for it preservation, protection, conservation and development.
MoEF on September 26 notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 for Conservation and Management of wetlands across the country. The Ministry has constituted the State Wetland Authorities under the chairmanship of Minister for Environment in every State.
In Goa, the 18-member committee will be headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who holds the Environment portfolio.
As per the Ministry, the State Authority has to prepare a list of all wetlands within three months and submit it for notification before the Ministry six months from now.
“Further, prepare a comprehensive digital inventory of all wetlands within a period of one year. The inventory has to be prepared every ten years,” the notification reads.
The Authority has to develop a list of activities to be regulated and permitted within the notified wetlands and their zones of influence. It has to define strategies for conservation and wise use of wetlands.
“Review integrated management plan for each of the notified wetlands, and within this plan consider continuation and support to traditional uses of wetlands which are harmonized with ecological character,” the Ministry stated.
