661
31.14.2.2 National Level
(i) The National Wetland Committee renders
advice on appropriate policies, research and
training, identifi cation of wetlands, review of
progress of MAPs, etc.
It has recently been broad based to include
representatives of State Governments and Union
Territories in order to make it more participatory
and to bridge the gap between policymaking and
the fi eld experiences.
(ii) The Thematic Research Committee has
been recently reconstituted on a more rational and scientifi c basis in order to approve
appropriate user-oriented research projects
with applied research approach.
(iii) The Expert Group on Wetlands (EGoW)
appraises MAPs of identifi ed wetlands
received from various State Governments
for fi nancial assistance.
31.14.2.3 State Level
The State Steering Committees have been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Secretaries/
Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries
of concerned departments. The committees will
have members from subject matter departments/
academicians/stakeholders/representative from
the Central Government to discuss Management
Action Plans and review conservation activities
undertaken from time to time. The secretary of the
nodal-implementing department is the MemberSecretary of this State Committee(s).
The representatives of other relevant State
Departments like Industry, Urban Development,
Municipal Administration, Mining and Agriculture and State Pollution Control Board are
members of State Committee(s). The activities of
these sectors like obnoxious chemical, industrial
effl uents, toxic run-off due to chemical inorganic
fertilisers, pesticides, sewage discharge and solid
waste cause pollution to wetlands. As such, sensitisation of these stakeholders is essential to
secure their support and cooperation.
31.14.2.4 District Level
District level committees have been constituted
in some states for involving stakeholders in the
decision-making process. However, much more
work needs to be done in this regard.
The MAPs are discussed in the state-level committee, inputs from various members obtained, and
the plans approved by the state- level committee
are sent to the Ministry for examination.
31.14.3 Capacity Building
31.14.3.1 Capacity Building
(from MOEF)
It is an important aspect for effective conservation.
No conservation activity is, perhaps, possible
without trained manpower. There is also need for
good infrastructure and case studies. The case
studies could teach values and functions of wetlands in an integrated and multidisciplinary
manner. As an example to cite here, the MOEF,
GOI has been taking a number of measures in
this regard. Some of these are given below:
(a) The Ministry has been publishing many
reports, documents, etc., on conservation and
wise use of wetlands, e.g. a number of monographs on Ramsar sites in collaboration with
WWF-India, and ecotourism guidelines for
Chilika Lake.
(b) Several training programmes have been
conducted in collaboration with different
academic organisations, research institutes,
State Governments, international organisations, NGOs, etc., to impart training on
various components of wetland conservation. Some of these are wise use, treatment of
catchment area, weed control, hydrological
aspects, research methodology, preparation
of management action plans, community
and stakeholders’ participation, etc. Further,
training is also imparted to policymakers,
senior or middle-level managers, organisations, etc.
(c) In addition to the above, the Ministry
had organised a National Training Programme for Integrated Water Resource
Management and Wetland Conservation
during 7–11 August 2006 in collaboration
with the Chilika Develop ment Authority.
31.14 Ongoing Programmes on Wetland Conservation: Action Plan of Government of India
31.14.2.2 National Level
(i) The National Wetland Committee renders
advice on appropriate policies, research and
training, identifi cation of wetlands, review of
progress of MAPs, etc.
It has recently been broad based to include
representatives of State Governments and Union
Territories in order to make it more participatory
and to bridge the gap between policymaking and
the fi eld experiences.
(ii) The Thematic Research Committee has
been recently reconstituted on a more rational and scientifi c basis in order to approve
appropriate user-oriented research projects
with applied research approach.
(iii) The Expert Group on Wetlands (EGoW)
appraises MAPs of identifi ed wetlands
received from various State Governments
for fi nancial assistance.
31.14.2.3 State Level
The State Steering Committees have been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Secretaries/
Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries
of concerned departments. The committees will
have members from subject matter departments/
academicians/stakeholders/representative from
the Central Government to discuss Management
Action Plans and review conservation activities
undertaken from time to time. The secretary of the
nodal-implementing department is the MemberSecretary of this State Committee(s).
The representatives of other relevant State
Departments like Industry, Urban Development,
Municipal Administration, Mining and Agriculture and State Pollution Control Board are
members of State Committee(s). The activities of
these sectors like obnoxious chemical, industrial
effl uents, toxic run-off due to chemical inorganic
fertilisers, pesticides, sewage discharge and solid
waste cause pollution to wetlands. As such, sensitisation of these stakeholders is essential to
secure their support and cooperation.
31.14.2.4 District Level
District level committees have been constituted
in some states for involving stakeholders in the
decision-making process. However, much more
work needs to be done in this regard.
The MAPs are discussed in the state-level committee, inputs from various members obtained, and
the plans approved by the state- level committee
are sent to the Ministry for examination.
31.14.3 Capacity Building
31.14.3.1 Capacity Building
(from MOEF)
It is an important aspect for effective conservation.
No conservation activity is, perhaps, possible
without trained manpower. There is also need for
good infrastructure and case studies. The case
studies could teach values and functions of wetlands in an integrated and multidisciplinary
manner. As an example to cite here, the MOEF,
GOI has been taking a number of measures in
this regard. Some of these are given below:
(a) The Ministry has been publishing many
reports, documents, etc., on conservation and
wise use of wetlands, e.g. a number of monographs on Ramsar sites in collaboration with
WWF-India, and ecotourism guidelines for
Chilika Lake.
(b) Several training programmes have been
conducted in collaboration with different
academic organisations, research institutes,
State Governments, international organisations, NGOs, etc., to impart training on
various components of wetland conservation. Some of these are wise use, treatment of
catchment area, weed control, hydrological
aspects, research methodology, preparation
of management action plans, community
and stakeholders’ participation, etc. Further,
training is also imparted to policymakers,
senior or middle-level managers, organisations, etc.
(c) In addition to the above, the Ministry
had organised a National Training Programme for Integrated Water Resource
Management and Wetland Conservation
during 7–11 August 2006 in collaboration
with the Chilika Develop ment Authority.
31.14 Ongoing Programmes on Wetland Conservation: Action Plan of Government of India