DRAFT WETLANDS RULES 2016
A new, watered-down Draft Wetlands Rules 2016 has put the Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA) at the mercy of the states, claimed concerned environmentalists, with the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) writing to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) to revoke the dilution and put in place The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010, which had never been implemented.
“Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems globally. They store water, recharge groundwater, purify it, protect against moderate floods as well as help fight drought. These are only few examples of their usefulness; there are many more. The 2016 Draft Wetlands Rules have disregarded an entire consultative process that started way back in 2008 — when the First Draft Regulatory Framework for Wetlands Conservation of India was put out by the MoEF — and have severely jeopardised wetlands conservation in the country. The 2016 rules are so diluted that there is no scope for modification. The ministry needs to constitute new rules through a consultative and participatory process. Till then, the 2010 rules need to be implemented immediately,” stressed Parineeta Dandekar, associate co-ordinator of SANDRP.
In its letter, SANDRP has said the new rules have given the states more power over CWRA, which could be detrimental for conservation since, even after six years of the previous rules being notified, the states have not shown any initiative to prepare documents for protecting the wetlands in their territories. The new draft rules state no criterion for which wetlands should be notified by the state. What’s worse, there are no guidelines about activities that should be prohibited or even regulated in the wetlands by states.
Dandekar maintained that a study on the Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem in Odisha (second largest mangrove forest of mainland India) estimated that a village protected by mangrove forests could avoid cyclone damage the most. The loss incurred per household was greatest in a village that was not sheltered by mangroves and lowest in the village that was.
Shailaja Deshpande, a member of Jeevitnadi — a citizens’ group working for the revival of rivers — said, “Creating and saving wetlands is one of the best ways of rejuvenating the dying rivers. We have innumerable quarries in the city and these have a great potential of being converted into wetlands if left undisturbed. The government should seriously look into saving these, considering that they have enormous potential for helping with groundwater recharge. Even the United Nations report suggests that India is bad at managing its surface water.”
Stalin Dayanand, environmentalist and director (projects) in Vanashakti NGO, added, “At present, the district administration is looking after these and its officials do not understand much. The 2016 rules don’t even hand over the wetlands’ charge to the forest department, which is more enlightened about conservation. Moreover, the rules have not said anything about prohibition of reclamation, which is a cause for concern. They have kept the rules loosely formatted, with several loopholes so that it will be easier to give clearances.”
When contacted, a senior official from MoEF said the rules are currently in the draft phase and the time limit to raise suggestions and objections is till June 6. The final notification will take into consideration these objections and suggestions, the official assured.