Ranchi, Aug 24: The Jharkhand government will undertake a detailed exercise to identify, verify, demarcate and notify wetlands across the state, with officials informing a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren that 2,119 potential wetland sites have been identified through an ISRO-based atlas.The issue was discussed at the first meeting of the Jharkhand State Wetland Authority, chaired by Soren at the state secretariat on Monday.
Soren directed officials to conduct detailed studies of the identified wetlands and maintain systematic records of their condition, water sources, surrounding activities and changes over time.He also ordered the preparation and regular updating of a comprehensive database of wetlands in the state.
The chief minister stressed that wetlands were important for maintaining biodiversity, ecological balance and natural water systems, and called for effective management plans based on scientific assessments and available data.According to officials, the 2,119 potential sites listed through the ISRO atlas will first undergo physical and factual verification by district-level wetland committees.
The findings will subsequently be examined at the state level before the identification and demarcation process is finalised.
Eligible wetlands will then be notified in accordance with applicable rules and Supreme Court directions, officials said.The district committees will also monitor compliance with wetland regulations, examine cases of encroachment and regulate activities that could adversely affect the identified water bodies.
Soren directed officials to ensure that important wetlands receive appropriate conservation and management plans and that their boundaries are clearly established to prevent unauthorised activities.
The meeting also discussed measures to strengthen the functioning of the State Wetland Authority, including proposals for committees dealing with tender and procurement scrutiny, technical matters and public complaints.
A mechanism was also discussed for examining grievances received from citizens and forwarding recommendations to the authority for a final decision.
Officials also reviewed proposals concerning the authority’s budget, manpower and operational requirements to ensure effective implementation of wetland conservation and management rules.
Senior officials from the forest, environment, climate change, water resources, urban development, revenue, finance, rural development and tourism departments attended the meeting.
The government said the broader objective of the initiative was to strengthen Jharkhand’s ecosystem, conserve natural water bodies and support long-term environmental and water-resource management.
