Draft Regulatory Framework for Conservation of Wetlands

[Dr Parul Srivastava]

Friday, May 21, 2010

Draft

‘Regulatory Framework for Conservation of Wetlands’

Recognizing the value of wetlands and taking cognizance of the fact

that there does not yet exist a formal system for conservation and management

and wise-use of wetlands, the National Environment Policy (NEP), 2006 seeks to

set up a legally enforceable regulatory mechanism for identified valuable

wetlands to prevent their degradation, enhance their conservation and wise-use

by all the stakeholders. In pursuance of the policy resolution, a multidisciplinary

expert group was set up in the Ministry of Environment and

Forests which held a series of meetings to formulate a structure for regulatory

framework for wetlands.

2. After elaborate discussions on this issue, the Ministry came up with a

draft regulatory framework for conservation of wetlands. The draft framework

enlists some of the activities which are prohibited and others which need to be

regulated. Categorization of wetlands has also been proposed on the basis of

significance of the functions performed and for determining the extent and level

of regulation. In the draft regulation, there is provision for creation of Wetlands

Regulatory Authorities at the central, state and district level for granting

clearance for permissible activity and for exercising regulatory functions. It is

also proposed to have wetland appraisal committee for appraising the proposals

for identification of new wetlands.

3 The draft of the Regulatory Framework for wetlands was put up on

the website of the Ministry for 90 days on 10-07-2008 to seek comments

of all the stakeholders concerned. The comments received were

incorporated appropriately and the final draft can be downloaded from

the website. It has been decided to put the draft again on the website of

the Ministry for a period of one month for inviting comments from all the

interested stakeholders. The comments if any may be communicated on

the addresses given below by 21st of June 2010.

Dr. Siddharth Kaul, Scientist ‘F’ [e-mail] /DD(SR)

Dr. Shruti Rai, Scientist ‘C’ [e-mail];

Mr. A K Goyal, Joint Secretary [e-mail]

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