The Central government has identified 103 wetlands under the National Wetland Conservation Programme in order to bring them under the regulation of Environment Protection Act 1986 for ensuring safeguard measures to Wetland habitats.
A draft Regulatory frame work under 1986 Act prepared by several multidisciplinary experts is now under observation and studied by various stakeholders to ratify before giving it a legally enforceable mechanism. It is still on paper and would come into effect after its finalization.
A large number of lakes whether manmade of natural water bodies have suffered environmental degradation. In the absence of a well-regulated mechanism and general awareness among masses these valuable Wetlands are continuously taking a grubby condition and thus creating ecological imbalances.
It was on May 2006, under the National Environment Policy (NEP), the Cabinet decided to set up a legally enforceable regulatory mechanism to identify Wetlands, to gauge their present environment status and make them environmentally sustainable.
With a complex geological scenery there are numerous wetlands in the form of lakes, reservoirs, tanks located all over the country, and hence it becomes important to make them properly accounted with a better scientific evaluation to prevent their degradation and enhance conservation.
As per government sources after a series of discussion and debate by Multi Disciplinary Experts Group to classify and assess the environmental status of wetlands , a set of procedures have been chalked out to undertake immediate conservation measures in the newly selected 103 wetlands.
Conservation Activities
Under the National Wetlands Conservation Programme the government is intended to do carry out various conservation activities including:
- Eco-tourism development
- Sustainable fishery development
- Environment education and awareness
- Promoting study for better use of wetland resources
- Legal intervention in the issue of environmental protection
The government has also purposed a draft notification to be brought out under the provision of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Community Participation
However, as one of the prime concern the authority is to be more specific and organised in encouraging community participation in the entire wetland management. Cleaning up lakes and carrying out sustainable activities can further boost up the environment protection programme. Further participation of Non-Government organisations in promoting awareness and public participation can be effective in understanding the socio, economic and ecological aspects of conservation.
Though in some cases there are few private organisations working on various programmes of lake restoration but lack of coordination between government and private mechanism plays a major hindrance in the progress.
Earlier in the month of Oct-November, 2007, the Taal 2007 - World Lake Conference was organised in co-operation with Indian government and International Lake Environment Community, where issues related to conservation of water bodies and wetlands were discussed.
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