In continuation of its efforts to preserve the wetlands across the State, the government has notified the constitution of District Level Wetland Management Committee that would be responsible for the management and conservation of wetlands in each of the districts.
The committee would recommend any activity related to development and management of wetland within its jurisdiction to the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority for approval.
The Committee would be responsible for preparation of a brief document on prioritised wetlands as well as delineating zone of influence.
Field validation
“The committee shall formulate the District Wetland Inventory Team for collecting data as well as [for] the delineation of boundary and zone of influence of enlisted wetlands to enable field validation,” a notification from the government stated.
The team will take up assessment based on the scientific sampling as well as data derived from stakeholder consultations and indigenous traditional knowledge, it further stated.
After detailed assessment to ensure standardisation, the team would prepare the report on prioritised wetlands.
The District Level Wetland Management Committee would be responsible of managing the district level database and would also oversee and monitor the water sources available in the respective districts, eco-system, facts adversely affecting the wetlands, analysis of wetland management needs, among others.
11 members
The District Collector would be the chairperson of the 11-member committee and the District Forest Officer would be the Member Secretary.
The Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority that functions as an apex body to bring about an integrated management of wetlands in the State would guide the district committees and monitor their functioning, according to a notification from the Environment and Forests Department.
