Conservation Bill being drafted

The Central Ministry of Environment and Forest has proposed a Bill for the conservation and regulation of wetlands in India. Tentatively called the Wetlands Conservation and Management Rules, 2008, the draft, which is still in the suggestion-incorporation stage, says, 8220;Many wetlands are seriously threatened by reclamation through drainage and landfill, pollution, hydrological alterations and over-exploitation of their natural resources8230;8221; The draft suggests categorisation of wetlands on various basis, including location and size.

It also has provision for the setting up of District Wetland Conservation Committees at the lowest level to monitor the implementation of its directives and the identification of means to make the wetland economically viable, if situated on private land. While the draft is silent as to who would retain or get the ownership of such wetlands, it has mooted a provision for public consultation after a management action plan is prepared, with all the stakeholders and those affected having a say in the finalisation.

Scientists at the PSCST suggest the inclusion of village ponds too and taking suggestion of the village panchayats regarding the identification of ponds as wetlands. 8220;The specifications may or may not be fulfilled by the village ponds, which, in any case, have a large role to play in the ecological health of a village. We will suggest inclusion of these ponds in the wetland category irrespective of size,8221; sources at the council say.

A senior IFS officer in Punjab8217;s Forest Department, however, says, 8220;We have enough laws already, but the need of the hour is to implement them and 8220;not lay our ecology mortgage to vested political and business interests8221;.

Presently open to suggestions, the copy of the draft is available on the ministry8217;s website.