Wetlands News Monitor May - June 2018

Home , Basai Wetland, Kali Tiger Reserve, Papikonda National Park, Sultanpur National Park

TRENDING TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE:

1. News on Mangrove

2. News Brief on Coral Reefs

3. Report on Discovery of Frog Species

4. Report on Indus River Dolphin

5. Report on Crocodiles

6. Report on Fishing Cat

7. Report on Bird Census

8. Information on Wetland Birds

9. News on Wetland Conservation

10. News on Wetland Pollution

11. Report on Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act

12. General Wetland News

News brief on Mangrove, Coral Reefs, Discovery of Frog Species, Indus River Dolphin, Crocodiles, Fishing Cat, Wetland Conservation and Pollution.

WNM Compiled by: Dr. B. Hemambika, Ms. A. Julffia Begam, Mr. N. Mohamed Ibrahim and Dr. Goldin Quadros ENVIS Centre, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty P.O., Coimbatore – 641108, India

News on Mangrove

1. Mangrove Forests in Puthuvype, Kerala

To conserve the mangrove forests in Puthuvype, Kerala the social forestry department has sent a proposal to the state government to notify the area as reserve forest. To prevent further depletion of mangroves, the proposal seeks to notify 206.80 hectares of mangrove forest spread over three survey numbers in Puthuvype village, as reserve forest under the provision of Kerala Forest Act 1961 (Act 4 of 1962). The proposed area falls under the custody of four government institutions and departments. The areas are under the jurisdiction of Cochin Port Trust, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos), Kinfra and the agriculture department.

The proposal specifies the relevance of the ecosystem in maintaining temperature in the area. The proposal states that mangrove swamps protect shoreline from erosion, storm surge and tsunamis. Puthuvype is located at south eastern portion of Vypeen Island. It now harbours large industrial conglomerates like LNG Terminal and IOC bottling plant. It proposes that the government exercises powers conferred by Section 3 and 4 of the Forest Act to notify the area and appoint Fort Kochi revenue divisional officer as the forest settlement officer. The responsibility of the officer is to inquire and determine the existence, its nature and extent of land on which an individual or department raises claim. The settlement officer, as per the Act, is entrusted with the task of hearing complaints of the public or stakeholders and taking decisions under provisions of the Act.

It was mentioned that if the government decides to go ahead with the takeover, a stakeholder meeting will have to be called after which a report will be sent to the state government which will publish a draft notification on the project. The project proposal will also be sent to the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change. The area will be called proposed reserve forest pending final decision. After the approval of central government, state government will issue a final notification declaring the area as reserve forest.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/move-to-conserve-puthuvype-mangroves- as-reserve-forest/articleshow/64524580.cms

2. Mangrove Forests in Uran, Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Forest Department reported that as many as 4,550 mangroves spread across 4.5 hectares in Uran, Maharashtra have been destroyed due to construction carried out by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). A letter from Regional Forest Officer B.D. Gaikwad, responding to a query by local fishermen‘s leader Ramdas Koli, said the ―death‖ of the mangroves was due to landfill work for the JNPT‘s Container Terminal 4. The letter states that it has come to notice during inspection 4,550 mangrove plants on 4.5 hectares have dried up due to the non-availability of sea water.

Nandkumar Pawar, founder-director of Shree Ekavira Aai Pratishtan stated that this was one of the ―largest massacres of mangroves‖ in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. He added that after Parsik Hills, which were destroyed due to reckless quarrying, it seems to be the turn of mangroves in the carelessness regarding the environment and he demanded an FIR against JNPT officials.

N. Vasudevan, Chief Conservator of Forests (Mangroves Cell), said the department will have to check if the destruction of mangroves was in the area awarded to the JNPT for construction and further action will be decided,‖ Mr. Vasudevan said. Mr. Pawar had earlier complained to the Konkan Divisional Commissioner, alleging encroachment by the JNPT outside the area allotted to it. He also said that the reclamations are happening all over Uran taluka on mangroves and on wetlands despite a stay order from the NGT dated October 11, 2013, that no reclamation should be undertaken on fishing land of the traditional fishing community. The NGT, in an order on February 27, 2015, directed that all fishing sites that were reclaimed be restored. Mr. Pawar reported that an appeal in this regard is pending with the Supreme Court, yet the violations are continuing.

Source:

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/4550-mangroves-in-uran-dry-up-due-to- landfill-work/article24187884.ece

News Brief on Coral Reefs

According to a study, marine protected areas (MPAs) may be effective in saving coral reefs from the damaging effects of global climate change which contradicts the notion that such efforts are futile. The study by researchers at the University of Maine in the US spanned 700 kilometers of the eastern Caribbean, discovering that local reef protection efforts can work. According to the findings, published in the journal Science Advances, local fisheries management resulted in a 62 percent increase in the density of young corals, which improves the ecosystem's ability to recover from major impacts like hurricanes and coral bleaching. Robert Steneck, a professor at the University of Maine reported that MPAs can help coral reefs, but studies to the contrary just were not measuring the right things at the right scales. He added that the idea behind MPAs is that, by reducing fishing pressure, increase in the number of seaweed-eating fish, and they decrease the amount of harmful seaweed, which makes it easier for younger corals to get started and thrive on the reef. He added that as taking field measurements on coral reefs is time consuming, many researchers were forced to take shortcuts and use simple, widely available data to analyse how reefs respond to protection.

Researchers stated that there is no management solution for any ecosystem and especially not for coral reefs. Stresses on reef corals from climate and atmospheric changes are serious and beyond direct management control. Steneck suggested that local management measures can strengthen the recovery of corals after damaging events and, eventually, improve their overall condition.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/marine-protected- areas-can-help-save-coral-reefs-study/articleshow/64108886.cms

Report on Discovery of Frog Species

Two frog species discovered in Eastern and Western Ghats. They are indicators of healthy ecosystem and live in wide habitat ranges. Two species of frogs have been recorded in the Indian

peninsular - Fejervarya kalinaga from the Eastern Ghats and Fejervarya krishnan from the Western Ghats. Prudhvi Raj, post doctoral research fellow of the Wildlife Institute of India and the lead author of the paper for the latest findings reported that the Eastern Ghats species of Fejervarya kalinga attains significance since it is endemic to moist high altitude forest of the region. Its type locality is from Mahendragiri in Odisha (west of Srikakulam). In Andhra Pradesh it is found in high elevation region of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam (Araku, Chintapalli, Sileru) and Papikonda National Park of East Godavari district. It is one of the very few species of herpetofauna endemic to the Eastern Ghats. The discovery is a collaborative effort of institutions like the Wildlife Institute of India, the Zoological Survey of India and the North Orissa University. He added that these new species are habitat specialists, living in perennial hill streams and have been unnoticed due to their secretive habit and morphological similarities with similar looking species of cricket frogs.

The new frog species – ‗Fejervarya kalinaga‘, the new frog species discovered in the Eastern Ghats.

Source: The Hindu Dt.: 06 June 2018

The species from the Eastern Ghats is widely distributed in the hilly mountains and named after the ancient kingdom of Kalinga — the historical region comprising Odisha and part of Andhra Pradesh that is north of River Godavari. The Fejervarya krishnan, found near the Jog Falls in Shimoga district of Karnataka, is named after the eminent biologist the late KS Krishnan for his colossal contribution in the field of biological sciences. Krishnan was professor emeritus

at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bangalore and was one of the key persons in embarking the School in Herpetology sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology. The Kalinga cricket frog was first spotted from various localities of the Eastern Ghats by Prof. Sushil Kumar Dutta, a renowned herpetologist and former professor at the North Orissa University, and the Krishnan cricket frog by Mr. Raj from a single locality near the Jog Falls. The Kalinga cricket frog is one of the largest of its group and grows up to 6.5 cm, whereas the other has an average size of 2 cm. Cricket frogs are indicators of healthy ecosystem and live in wide habitat ranges in agricultural fields, streams, swamps and wetlands.

Source:

 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/two-frog-species-discovered-in- eastern-and-western-ghats/article24090873.ece

Report on Indus River Dolphin

The WWF-India in partnership with the Punjab‘s department of forests and wildlife preservation conducted by the population survey of Indus river dolphin during 3-6 May 2018 period and found the population of the Indus river dolphins between five and 11. Number of Indus river dolphin may be negligible in India, but the first ever organised survey of this endangered aquatic species in the river Beas in Punjab gave a sign of ―breeding population‖ which has potential to be multiplied in due course if properly conserved. Though the country has dolphin population in much bigger numbers elsewhere (primarily in the river Ganga and its tributaries in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and river Brahamputra in Assam), the very presence of dolphin in river Beas shows health of the river which has been supporting aquatic life.

Suresh Babu, director-rivers of the WWF-India stated that at least, its presence in the Beas river above the Harike barrage for 70 years indicates no decline in population of the species. The presence of a young calf (found during the survey) is also a positive sign and indicates a population that is large enough to be viable. The idea of the survey was also to sensitise local authorities about conserving the Indus river dolphin. The survey was conducted

across 185km stretch of the river Beas (Beas Conservation Reserve). It was started from 52 Headworks, Talwara on May 3 and ended at Harike Nooze point on May 6. The 55 km stretch of the river downstream of 52 Headworks was, however, surveyed by road due to insufficient water in the Beas. Remaining 130 km stretch was surveyed using motorboats.

According to WWF-India, the first dolphin sighting during the survey occurred at the village of Mundapind, which included an adult female with a week-old calf and a sub-adult. A second dolphin sighting occurred at the village of Karmowala (8 kilometers downstream of Mundapind) which again included an adult female with a week-old calf and a sub-adult, indicating breeding populations in the river. Babu reported that the department of forests and wildlife preservation, Punjab and the WWF-India is now preparing an Indus River Dolphin strategy with an implementation road map to secure the habitats and conserve the endangered species.

Though different surveys were conducted for dolphin population in Ganga-Brahamputra rivers and also in Chilika lake in the past, there is no concept of a national census as such in the case of dolphins. The WWF-India had in 2015 did one survey in river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and estimated the population of Ganga river dolphin at 1,270. Different estimates have put the total population of the Ganga river population somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. Similarly, population of Irrawaddy dolphins, found in Chilika Lake in Odisha, is estimated at between 130 and 140.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/indus-river-dolphin- survey-shows-sign-of-breeding-population-of-endangered-aquatic-species-in-river- beas/articleshow/64099628.cms

Report on Crocodiles

The wetlands of lush green Charotar belt of Central Gujarat are home to as many as 233 crocodiles. This count of Charotar crocodiles was conducted by the Voluntary Nature

Conservancy (VNC). VNC which has been conducting Charotar Crocodile Counts since the last five years annually during winters, for the first time had conducted a summer crocodile count between May 11 and May 13 this year. The crocodile count data from 17 villages of Anand and Kheda districts revealed presence of 233 crocodiles including juveniles in the wetlands of the twin districts. Interestingly, during the earlier crocodile count which VNC had organised on January 6 and January 7, volunteers could sight 131 muggers – in the rural heartland of Gujarat.

Source: The Times of India Dt.: 23 May 2018

Dhaval Patel, managing trustee of VNC stated that during winters when the reptiles come out for basking, the adults or the matured ones, occupy premium places as they need more heat whereas the juveniles remain surrounded by vegetation making their sighting difficult, but during night counting during summers, one can sight the juvenile. Since it was not possible to approach crocodiles closer to evaluate the size of the reptiles, a majority of the crocodiles recorded during the night counts were of unknown size. The report released by VNC states revealed that of the 233 individuals sighted, 41 were bigger than two meters, 24 were between one and two meters, 38 less than one meter and rest and 130 were of unknown size.

According to VNC, globally such citizen science approach is used for crocodile population surveys only at two places including the one in the Charotar belt of Central Gujarat and at Belize in Central America. Professor B C Choudhury, retired scientist and executive

trustee of Wildlife Trust of India had also remained present during the summer count to share his experience with the participants.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/charotar-wetlands-home-to-233- crocodiles/articleshow/64279373.cms

Report on Fishing Cat

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department undertook the census of the endangered Fishing Cat at the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS) on a large scale using modern technology. The month- long exercise comprising 30 trained personnel equipped with 120 state-of-the-art digital cameras commenced on 7th June 2018. Categorised as ‗vulnerable‘ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature‘s (IUCN) ‗Red List of Threatened Species‘, and very little known about its ecology and behaviour, the Fishing Cat is being spotted every now and then in the CWLS, the second largest mangroves after the Sundarbans, and an abode for about 85 species.

Fishing Cat, a rare cat species moving in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

Source: The Hindu Dt.: 08 June 2018

A feline, the Fishing Cat is about twice the size of a typical house cat is an adept swimmer and enters water frequently to prey on fish as its name suggests. It is known to even dive to catch fish. Anant Shankar, District Forest Officer (Wildlife) reported that camera traps were installed in the entire 235.7 km stretch of the sanctuary to assure the accuracy. As many as 60 locations have been identified in the entire CWLS and two cameras each will be installed to capture the movements of the species. It ensures coverage of all the three distributaries – Tulyabhaga, Coringa and Gaderu – inside the sanctuary. The department has already launched a mascot of the CWLS with the caricature of the species and named it ‗Macha – the Fishing Cat,‘ aimed at promoting its presence and the need to preserve to the general public.

Source:

 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/state-takes-hi-tech-route-to- count-fishing-cats/article24110540.ece

Report on Bird Census

1. Bird Census at Ranganathittu, Karnataka

As a part of a bid to pitch for International Wetland Site status the second bird census of the season at Ranganathittu was conducted on May 2018 to gather data of the bird species harboured in the bird sanctuary later in the year through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and usher in the best international conservation practices at the sanctuary. Around 100 volunteers from Mysuru, Bengaluru and other parts of the State took part in the exercise, which commenced at 5.30 a.m. and concluded at 10.30 a.m. This was followed by a workshop by ecologist T.K. Roy. The volunteers identified nearly 120 species of birds, including the spot-billed pelican, painted stork, egret, stone plover, Ibis, and Baya Weaver.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Mr. V. Yedukondalu said the first bird census was held in March 2018 and the plan is to conduct a census in each season as the sanctuary harbours different species during different times. He added that some birds arrive here late summer while there are many species that roost here only during winter. Hence, they planned to conduct census

four times every year to create a robust database of the birds that seek sanctuary at Ranganathittu. The exercise also takes into account the surrounding vegetation on which the birds depend, and this is expected to result in more scientific landscape management.

Ranganathittu houses a large number of bird species as well as endangered species such as the Mugger crocodile. Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

Source: The Hindu Dt.: 14 May 2018

The first bid for international wetland site for Ranganathittu is expected to take a year for formality completion, and the proposal will be submitted for consideration during the international meet of the countries that are signatories to the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is an inter-governmental treaty for the conservation and management of wetlands. More that 90% of the member states of the United Nations, including India, are signatories. The convention was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. There are 26 Ramsar sites in India, but none in Karnataka. Mr. Yedukondalu said there was every possibility of Ranganathittu qualifying as an International Wetland Site as it fulfils many of the criteria for it. He stated that there are nine criteria and meeting just one is sufficient to qualify as an International Wetland Site.

One of the criteria is that the wetland should support at least 1% of the population of any endangered bird species. Ranganathittu supports more than 3% of the world population of spot- billed pelicans and painted storks. Birds apart, Ranganathittu sanctuary also supports other

endangered species like the Mugger crocodile, river otters, and Mahseer fish, which is unique to the Cauvery River and is on the verge of extinction.

Source:

 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/second-bird-census-conducted-at- ranganathittu/article23875606.ece

2. Bird Census at Periyar Tiger Reserve

Bird survey in the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) reveals the presence of richer avian fauna. During the annual exercise birders recorded the presence of Glossy Ibis and Small Pratincole. It was reported that Glossy Ibis was recorded in Vellimala camp. A flock of around fifty birds were also seen in flight. Small Pratincole was recorded in Periyar Lake. Going by the initial information, around 250 species were recorded during the four-day exercise. Good populations of Great Hornbill and Wayanad Laughing Thrush and migrant varieties like Osprey, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Brown Shrike and Black Baza were also recorded during the survey. Populations of Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black and Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher and White-bellied Shortwing were recorded from higher elevations of the Reserve.

Source: The Hindu Dt.: 16 May 2018

An ornithologist who led the exercise stated that more than the number of new species recorded from PTR, the survey underscored the fact that a large number of endemic and threatened bird species were thriving in the Reserve. The reserve also housed varied bird habitats. From forest birds to wetland- dependent ones, one could find a wide variety

Glossy Ibis spotted at the Vellimala camp, and of avian fauna in PTR. Research Range Officer Small Pratincole sighted in Periyar Lake. Jogie John, Thekkady Forest Range Officer Anuraj and J. Patrick David, ecologist, Periyar

Tiger Conservation Foundation facilitated the Development Committees and neighbouring survey. This year, 98 bird watchers from schools and colleges too attended. The students Kerala and Tamil Nadu participated in the were imparted basics of birding during the survey. Students from Nature Club of Eco- survey.

Source:

 http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/glossy-ibis-among- sightings-at-ptr/article23898467.ece

Information on Wetland Birds

(i) Pokkali is a unique saline tolerant rice variety that is cultivated using extensive aquaculture in an organic way in the water-logged coastal regions, spread in about 5000 hectares area in Alappuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts of Kerala in Southern India. They support as many as 174 of the 516 bird species in the State which need to be conserved. The online citizen science platform, eBird, where birdwatchers upload their daily birdwatching data, has listed 174 bird species (from 430 checklists) since 2011 in pokkali fields near the Kadamakkudy rice field alone.

Source: The Hindu Dt.: 20 May 2018

Vishnupriyan Kartha, secretary of Cochin Natural History Society which organises bird watching sessions in the area on a regular basis stated that they see a lot of bird species in

pokkali fields, be it in the Kadamakkudy area or Kandakadavu and Kalathara regions near Thoppumpady - Palluruthy. Species sighted in pokkali fields include the commonly-seen egret species, rare ospreys, migratory birds like sandpipers and plovers, and the difficult-to-spot black- capped kingfisher.

Deepa K.M., who conducted the study as part of her doctoral thesis reported that Pokkali fields need to be urgently conserved, and farmers should be encouraged to cultivate the crop. She added that for ease and profits, many farmers are now turning away from the traditional method of cultivation by not cultivating rice and farming only shrimp. She added that their work shows that both are required to sustain high bird diversity.

Source:

 http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/high-bird-diversity-in-ernakulams-pokkali- fields/article23939401.ece

(ii) The heronry, on a small islet on the Kabani River, is an elevated sandbank covered with vegetation, predominantly bamboo grove. As the southwest monsoon advances in Wayanad in full vigour even as early as in the first weeks of June, flocks of waterbirds have started to congregate at Panamaram heronry for breeding. Though the rain-inundated wetlands of Panamaram area have brought enough volumes of food for the survival of the avian population, efforts to declare the breeding site as a bird sanctuary remains on paper after several years of conservation efforts.

C.K. Vishnudas, ornithologist and director of Hume centre for ecology and wildlife biology described that the largest and oldest heronry in the State is a safe haven for more than nine species of waterbirds for breeding. He stated that the site is a rare breeding ground for globally threatened water fowls including the Black headed-ibis, Purple Heron, Large Egret, Median Egret, Little Egret, Pond Heron, Night Heron, and Little cormorant. He added that it was the only location in State where the Cattle egret breeds. While nine species of birds were breeding on the tiny island during the monsoon, many other species were breeding on the riverbanks and marshy wetlands nearby. He reported that due to anthropogenic interventions and

destruction of the avian habitat, the birds that bred in the wetlands in the past such as Lesser whistling duck, Jacanas and Moore hens had already disappeared.

A little egret in breeding plumage at the Panamaram heronry in Wayanad district.

Source: The Hindu Dt.: 19 June 2018

Former District Collector Kesavendrakumar and Sub Collector Sambasiva Rao had taken special efforts to declare the heronry as a bird reserve to conserve the avian population nearly four years ago but the Panamaram grama panchayat was yet to pass a resolution necessary to declare the area as a bird reserve. Night patrolling to stop sand mining in the area and stringent measures against filling of wetlands were the need of the hour to conserve the unique birds‘ habitat, he added.

Source:

 https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/panamaram-yet-to-be- declared-a-bird-reserve/article24197176.ece

(iii) Black-necked stork was rescued at Najafgarh Jheel on 13th June 2018 by the Haryana Wildlife Department after a rubber ring got stuck around its beak. The rescued black-necked stork was released at the Sultanpur National Park. A yellow ring with ―K16‖ written on it has been put around the stork‘s leg to help track its movements. Coding and ringing of birds in India

is done by the Bombay Natural History Society. Jittery due to the crowd and commotion, the bird kept sitting on the grass even after a Forest Department official took away the makeshift cage in which it had been kept for the past two days since its rescue. Even Haryana Forest Minister Rao Narbir Singh prodding the bird to ―persuade‖ it to fly did not work. Eventually, the stork was carried away from the crowd and left in the bushes. Ten minutes later, it got up and walked deep inside the park.

The rescued black-necked stork was released at the Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram Photo Credit: Manoj Kumar

Source: The Hindu Dt.: 16 June 2018

Forest Department officials, Gadoli Khurd resident Anil Gandas and Jhajjar resident Sonu Dalal, and others involved in the rescue operation were felicitated by the Minister. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Haryana) Anil Kumar Hooda was also present. Pankaj Gupta of the Delhi Bird Foundation told the Minister how photographer Manoj Nayar had accidentally clicked a picture of the stork at Basai wetland on June 7. While processing the pictures, he discovered a ring stuck around its beak. The news spread and Forest Department officials were informed. A frantic search for the bird began and many methods, including camouflage, drone and bamboo traps, were used to catch it. A rescue team finally chased the stork for two km near Najafgarh Jheel and caught it.

Mr. Gupta, several birders and environmentalists also demanded that several acres of land in Basai, which is frequented by birds throughout the year, be declared a wetland. He claimed

that the land remains inundated with water even during peak summer and visits by more than 280 bird species there have been recorded. Mr. Hooda and several Forest Department officials visited Basai wetland later and assured the birders that they would take up the matter with the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, which owns a major portion of the land.

Source:

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/amid-great-fanfare-rescued-stork-released- inside-park/article24176544.ece

News on Wetland Conservation

For wetland conservation, hundred waterbodies in the state of Tamil Nadu get an additional protective ring as the State Wetland Authority is all set to notify them as ‗priority wetlands‘. After the notification, these wetlands will become protected waterbodies and intensive conservation measures will be taken to maintain and improve them. Forty-nine wetlands have already been selected and documentation of data was in progress that includes information such as area of the wetland, its boundaries, biodiversity information and ecological values.

The Coimbatore-based Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural history (SACON), which was entrusted with the selection and Rs. 10 lakh was allotted for the study of these wetlands. In Coimbatore, 4 lakes – Sulur, Singanallur, Sengulam and Sundakkamuthur – have been chosen to be declared as priority wetlands. Once these lakes are notified, activities such as dumping of sewage, garbage and construction debris will be stopped. A senior forest officer reported that the development activities will not be taken up without the approval of the authority. He added that once notified, it was not just the wetlands but the entire supply channels from the foothills till the wetlands will be conserved.

In Tamil Nadu, as per a study by SACON in 1991 there are 1,175 wetlands that cover 1.24% of the total area. Of these, 12 have been declared as bird sanctuary and these wetlands come under the Wildlife Protection Act. V S Vijayan, Trustee of Salim Ali Foundation stated that out of the remaining wetlands, based on their ecological services, dependence of community,

biodiversity, importance and other benefits, these waterbodies will be selected for notification. Of this, already 49 have been selected and a report is being prepared by SACON.

As per the state government officials in the forest department, SACON submitted its initial report on wetlands. Jayanthi, member secretary of State Wetland Authority stated that they will study the document and take further steps. This document details all the data about the selected wetlands such as its area, ecological important, species of flora and fauna recorded, activities carried out, community dependent on the wetland and similar information. In another three months, the authority will also notify these 100 wetlands. This is the first major task entrusted with State Wetland Authority, which was formed in 2016. The authority was formed based on a Supreme Court direction hearing public interest litigation filed in 2001. The authority is headed by the minister of environment and forests as chairperson and chief secretary as vice- chairperson. The member secretary is from the forest department and secretaries of various departments are members.

Environmentalists said that it was very important to notify the wetlands to protect them. Joseph Reginald of the Centre for Urban Biodiversity Conservation reported that ecological components in an urban environment are very important. He added that such laws help activists to promote conservation activities. These policies are important as it will act as a deterrent for violators.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/100-wetlands-to-be-protected-in- state/articleshow/64263894.cms

News on Wetland Pollution

(i) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Haryana government to file its response to a plea alleging dumping of waste at a construction and demolition waste recycling facility in the Basai wetland area in Gurugram by 11th May 2018. The Bench headed by judicial member Raghuvendra S. Rathore, on May 3, granted the State government time to file its

response to the notices that were issued. The plea filed by NGO Delhi Bird Foundation, alleged that the project proponent did not have the requisite approvals from the Haryana state pollution control board. Citing environmental concerns, the plea further sought a stay on the dumping of waste at the concerned site. The green panel, in January had lifted its stay on the construction of a waste treatment plant in the catchment area of the Basai wetland after noting that the particular site had not been identified as a wetland by the Haryana government. The petitioner earlier had contended that the Basai wetland was a valuable waterbody even though it had not been declared as a wetland under the 2010 Wetland (Conservation & Management) Rules. The plea contended that the construction and debris plant which is under process of establishment shall have an adverse impact on the water body due to various activities connected with the plant.

Source:

 http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/waste-being-dumped-in-basai-wetland- plea/article23806919.ece

(ii) The dumping of thousands of used bottles has created a giant mound of plastic waste on the fringes of the Basai wetland in Gurugram, New Delhi not far from the controversial plant to treat construction and demolition waste that has drawn strong protests from environmental activists. This plastic waste mound, say local residents, is a recent development. Next to it is a privately run plastic compressing and recycling unit that has also come up at the site recently. A local resident reported that earlier, only C&D (construction and demolition) waste was being dumped here by authorities and the plastic waste flows down a drain to the wetland. Barely 200 meters from this spot is the Basai wetland where a birder spotted a black-necked stork with the ring that holds the cap of a plastic bottle around its beak. The stork, as a result, is unable to part its beak. As word spread and the forest and wildlife department began a search for the bird, environmental activists and birders sought an immediate ban on dumping of all kinds of waste near Basai.

Pankaj Gupta of the Delhi Bird Foundation blamed MCG for ruining the wetland. In May 2017, MCG laid the foundation of the city‘s first C&D waste treatment plant in Basai. Gupta stated that the corporation is gradually filling up the wetland and dumping of waste is changing

its very nature. Waste dumping is hazardous for winged creatures and a plastic ring around the beak of an endangered bird shows that many birds are at risk. Mixed waste is being dumped at the site both by official agencies and private players, activists and local residents said. Over 300 species of birds including the black-necked stork, painted stork, ruddy shelduck, common pochard, bar-headed goose, greylag goose, northern pintail, plovers, isabelline shrike, tickell‘s blue flycatcher, green-winged teal, yellow-legged quail and grasshopper warbler are spotted at the Basai wetland every year.

An NGT stay on the construction of the C&D plant was vacated in January 2018. The court, however, directed MCG to ensure construction work starts only after requisite permissions are obtained from all departments in line with the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016. The plant is expected to treat over 500 tonnes of C&D waste a day. Rakesh Alhawat, a birder and activist who has been rescuing water birds in the area, cited two other cases where birds had Black-necked stork, a ‗near-threatened‘ species with its beak caught in a plastic ring been in a similar predicament. He reported from a bottle in the Basai wetland. that this year, they rescued an oriental darter Source: The Times of India Dt.: 09 June 2018 and a cormorant after they were trapped in waste material in the wetlands near Jhajjar.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/plastic-bomb-at-gurgaon- wetland/articleshow/64514402.cms  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/wildlife-dept-birders-look-for-rare- stork-a-victim-of-plastic-waste/articleshow/64514411.cms

Report on Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act

The Kerala government has brought in amendments to the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, not only without diluting its original intention, but by giving more clarity to certain crucial provisions. This was reported by revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan. Replying to the discussions on the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland (Amendment) Bill, 2018, and the allegations that 14 of the 30 sections of the Act have been amended, the minister said that the key amendments were brought only in Sections 2,5,10,14 and 27 and the government has no intention other than to find solutions to genuine issues. He said that the allegations of the opposition that the LDF was taking a double stand by introducing section 27A (3), the same clause they had opposed while in opposition when the then UDF government introduced 3A amendment that dealt with regularizing the fillings prior to 2008, were unwarranted.

The minister stated that the then 3A amendment was without any kind of checks or balances, but the 27A (3) has several strict clauses attached to it. The regularization of the filling will be allowed only if the land is not a notified land, and is also proved to have been filled by using the satellite maps of Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre (KSREC) and also by certification by local-level monitoring committee. He added that amendment that the paddy land and wetland filling can be allowed for public purpose was introduced as several government projects like GAIL pipelining had stalled because of the provisions of the Act. Further, he stated that the amendment to introduce rights of cultivation in the paddy land that is lying fallow to a third party for two years even without owner‘s permission would not encroach into his right of property, but has been introduced with the intention of increasing land under paddy farming.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the very definition of ―public purpose‖ is questionable, as it also says ―other schemes as may be specified by the government from time to time‖ can be considered as government purpose. The discussion that began at 1pm on the final day of the 11th session of the 14th assembly lasted for more than six hours. The opposition walked out after tearing apart copies of the bill. The assembly then passed the bill and adjourned sine-die.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/amendment-to-wetland-act- passed/articleshow/64744265.cms

General Wetland News

The Neknampur Lake‘s floating treatment wetland in Hyderabad, which has been serving as a fitting example of low-cost but effective techniques used to clean city lakes, has been facing controversies after a group of citizens raised concerns over the use of styrofoam or thermocol for the wetlands. Dhruvansh, a voluntary organization working for the lake‘s protection, introduced its first floating island in March 2017. It was designed using styrofoam, plastic, bamboo, gunny bags and coir. However, a citizens group say that the floating islands made using Styrofoam is harmful as it is a banned material in many countries including India.

Manoj Kumar, member of Neknampur Lakes Restoration Committee and general secretary of Alkapur Township stated that it has not been tried in any lake and it should become an example to other lakes if it is not scientifically proven because it will create problems. He added that PCB gave in writing that they don‘t have any clearance from their side and it is not a private property where anybody can do anything they want. Madhulika Chowdhary of Dhruvansh said the PCB clearly told them that they have nothing to do with this permission. She added that permission has to be taken from the irrigation department or the HMDA and they have it. HMDA sponsored their project. Mr. P. Veeranna, joint chief environmental scientist at TSPCB assured that there is no such danger.

Source:

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/floating-wetland-in-green- muddle/articleshow/64251127.cms