PANJIM: As the State government has begun the process to identify and notify the wetlands, around hundred ‘Wetland Mitras’ would be put on the job to voluntarily work towards conservation and management of these distinct ecosystems.
On Saturday, five ‘Wetland Mitras’ were appointed, on the recommendation of the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of St Cruz, to work for preservation of Bondvol Lake, the notified wetland.
Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) member secretary Dr Pradeep Sarmokadam said that the authority, through the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), has initiated the process to identify the wetlands. “Currently, efforts are being made by GSWA to implement the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and identify and notify the wetlands present in the State,” he said.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion of World Wetland Day celebration, Sarmokadam said that GSWA, on recommendation of concerned BMCs would appoint nearly hundred ‘Wetland Mitras’, who will be voluntarily contributing towards conservation and management of the notified wetlands in their respective villages.
He said that NIO is been asked to seek help from BMCs and local people with significant knowledge of their surroundings, in identification of wetlands and preparation of brief document.
The official, however, lamented that the process to identify and notify the wetlands has been delaying on accounts of pre-existing rights and privileges.
“It is not very easy to notify wetlands unless we establish the pre-existing rights and privileges. We need to take this aspect into serious consideration as several tenants and people are directly or indirectly associated to these wetlands. Their ownership has to be established,” he said.
