Navi Mumbai: The Metropolis and Industrial Growth Company (CIDCO) which has been leasing out main water our bodies for varied tasks is just not the precise authority to certify the existence of wetlands, the Centre has clarified.
Appearing on a criticism registered by NatConnect Basis with the Prime Minister towards the destruction of wetlands within the absence of notifying the water our bodies, the Union Ministry of Setting, Forest and Local weather Change (MOEFCC) has mentioned that the method of identification and notifying the wetlands is in progress.
“The bottom truthing of wetlands (larger than 2.25 ha) throughout the nation primarily based on the ISRO -SAC (satellite tv for pc software centre) atlas is being carried out by all states/UTs,” Rajasekhar Ratti, Scientist D, Wetlands Division – MOEFCC, knowledgeable NatConnect director B N Kumar.
“All wetlands/water our bodies are being protected underneath extant legal guidelines of states/UTs. Additional, all recognized and notified wetlands are being protected underneath provisions of Wetlands (Conservation and Administration) Guidelines, 2017,” Ratti mentioned.
At this stage, Kumar particularly drew the MOEFCC’s consideration to the truth that CIDCO has been denying the existence of any wetlands in Navi Mumbai and leasing them out for tasks equivalent to Navi Mumbai particular financial zone (NMSEZ), JNPA and even a golf course.
Ratti responded: “To your type data, CIDCO is just not an organisation to determine wetlands”. He, subsequently, requested Kumar to contact State Wetlands Authority, Maharashtra for clarification on the wetlands in Maharashtra.
This piece of knowledge assumes significance in view of CIDCO turning down a proposal from the state mangrove cell to preserve the wetlands of Belpada, Bhendkhal and Panje in Uran and NRI Seawoods and TS Chanakya in Nerul, NatConnect identified. The CIDCO’s stand in response to the mangrove cell was that these water our bodies are developable land parcels.
In one other growth, CIDCO has allotted the NRI Seawoods and TSC wetlands for a golf course. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Growth Authority (MCZMA) has even granted a CRZ clearance on CIDCO certificates that the water our bodies should not wetlands.
This, even if the Bombay Excessive Courtroom has struck down the golf course mission and the CIDCO particular go away petition is pending within the Supreme Courtroom.
As regards conserving the 286-hectare Panje wetland, Vanashakti and Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan have filed separate petitions in HC the place the listening to is pending.
The Chief Minister has already referred NatConnect’s criticism towards the burial of Bhendkhal wetland to the setting division.
One NatConnect’s level that simply 1,274 wetlands of the two.5 lakh main wetlands recognized by the Atlas have been listed by the Indian Wetlands web site of the MOEFCC, Ratti clarified that the “floor truthing” of wetlands is being carried out by all States/UTs underneath the steerage and help of Nationwide Centre for Sustainable Coastal Administration (NCSCM).
“As the method for wetlands identification is underneath progress, it wants a while to get the information on the portal (indianwetlands.in),” the MOEFCC official mentioned in his mailed response.
In the meantime, Nandakumar Pawar, head of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan has criticised the state authorities for his or her “lack of seriousness” in figuring out and notifying the wetlands. The duty flows all the way down to the district administration ranges which have completely failed, Pawar regretted.
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