Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) has informed National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the process to identify wetlands and prepare the “Brief Documents” along with activities as allowed and prohibited under Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 will be completed within one year.
When the matter came up for the hearing on January 23, GSWA member secretary informed NGT Principal Bench, New Delhi that the work with regards to 35 wetlands, already identified by National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) will be completed within six months and that the identification of the remaining wetlands can continue simultaneously.
“The entire work will be concluded within one year,” GSWA said.
While accepting the timeline set by the GSWA, NGT directed submission of quarterly progress report through email, with regard to the status as on April 30 by May 5.
The matter is posted for next hearing on May 14.
During its last hearing on December 3, 2019, NGT had raised question over the engagement of NIO, as an expert agency for identification of wetlands. NIO was selected on August 20, last year.
“Considering the nature of the task regarding which guidelines already exist either in the Central Wetlands Rules, 2017 or similar rules of the State, we are unable to understand as to why the NIO should be engaged for the purpose of identification of wetlands,” NGT had said.
The applicant Kashinath Shetye informed the Bench that Government has earlier taken decision to engage National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) for the task and that work had already been executed.
However, in its submission, GSWA said the work executed by NCSCM is for identification and demarcation of coastal zone and did not cover wetland, which may be beyond the said zone.
“Also, since the NCSCM had delayed in responding to the proposal of GSWA and that less rate had been quoted by NIO, the work was assigned to NIO,” GSWA said.
