STATE WETLAND AUTHORITY (MP SWA), EPCO

Wetlands occur where water meets land. “Wetland" means an area of water; whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with is static or flowing, fresh (Lakes, ponds, tanks, marsh, peatland), brackish or salt, including areas of marine water  (coastal lagoons, rocky shores, and coral reefs) the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters, but does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes. Wetlands exist in every country and in every climatic zone, from the Polar Regions to the tropics, and from high altitudes to dry regions.

MoEFCC, GoI has issued the Wetlands Rules, 2017 (Anex-1) in place of Wetlands Rules, 2010 and Guideline for Implementing of Wetland Rules, 2017 (Anex-2) for the Integrated Management of Wetlands. As per the Wetland Rule 2017, the GoMP have constituted the State Wetland Authority of Madhya Pradesh (MPSWA) vide order dated 02.01.18 with Minister of Environment GoMP as the Chairperson, Chief Secretary to Government of MP as the Vice Chairperson, Secretaries of the stakeholders department as ex-officio members.  Government of MP also declared Environment Department as the Nodal Department and Environmental Planning & Coordination Organization (EPCO) as the Secretariat of SWA Executive Director of EPCO as the Member Secretary of the MP State Wetland Authority (Anex-3).  A Technical and Grievance committee as required under Rules have been constituted (Anex-4). Government of Madhya Pradesh has nominated five subject expert and three co-opted members (Anex-5).

1. MP State Wetland Authority has completed following activities

1. Digital Inventory and GIS Web Portal developed by SWA, EPCO.

• In compliances to the Rule 5 (4) d, SWA has prepared Wetlands Inventory of Madhya Pradesh having area > 2.25 ha. On this basis of wetlands inventory data, GIS based Web portal has been designed and developed in coordination with MAP-IT, Bhopal.
• The web portal Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is http://103.94.204.25/epco. The web portal includes information of district/village wise wetlands, Wetland area, coordinates, code, boundary, drainage/river information along with basin. National and State Highway, railways, administrative boundaries up to village level, habitation etc.

2. Conservation and management plan of wetlands of Madhya Pradesh –

3. Wetland Rejuvenation Programme Phase I, MoEF&CC, GoI –

• MP SWA has submitted Brief Document, Wetland Health Card and 5 year Integrated Management Plan of Bhoj Wetland Bhopal and Sirpur Wetland Indore (MP)

4. Wetland Rejuvenation Programme Phase II, MoEF&CC, GoI –

• MP SWA, as per the information received from respective district collectors has identified 2 wetlands of each district of the state and list of 120 wetlands submitted to MoEF&CC, GoI.
• The wetlands have been selected for preparing Wetland Health Card, Conservation Plan, and Brief Document.
• The MoEF&CC, GoI has given a format for Wetland Health Cards, which includes Hydrology, Area, Water quality, Biodiversity and Policy and other rules. According to all the parameters each wetland indicates a category, which defines status of their ecological health.
• MP SWA has prepared and submitted about 44 Wetland Health Card to MoEF&CC, GoI.
• Preparation of remaining wetland health card based on water quality analysis is in progress.

5. MP SWA received 28 wetland brief documents for wetland notification under Wetland Rules, 2017; however these brief documents are looking in terms of zone of influence maps.

6. Hands on training program organized for strengthening capacity of wetlands stakeholder departments for preparation of Integrated Management Plan (IMP), Health Card and Wetlands Mitra of Wetlands/Lakes.

7. MoEF&CC, GoI has also indentified 09 potential wetland candidates from Madhya Pradesh for designating them as Ramsar site. The meeting is being considered at the highest level. Ramsar Information sheet of Sirpur Wetland, Indore is being prepared in house.

8. Various public awareness programmes for wetland conservation are being organized by the State Government from time to time.

9. World Wetlands Day was celebrated on 2nd February 2021; with theme "Wetlands & Water".  The programme was organized to raise awareness and to highlight the vital role & importance of wetlands and its biodiversity. “Self Guided Wetland Walk” and “Bird watching” at Van Vihar, Bhoj Wetland, Bhopal was organized followed by a daylong Workshop on theme of “Wetlands & Water”. Hon’ble Environment Minister, GoMP, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, GoMP, Additional Chief Secretary, P&RD, GoMP and Member Secretary of SWA graced the occasion.

10. A review meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, GoMP was organized on 3^rd February 2021 for inter departmental coordination in relation to Bhopal Development Plan-2031 and Wetland Rules, 2017.

11. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh inaugurated Amrit Sagar Conservation and Management project of Ratlam city on 4^th February 2021 and given 1^st instalment cheque an amount of Rs. 4 crore to Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Ratlam.

12. First meeting of State Wetland Authority was convened under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of Environment, GoMP on 22^nd February 2021.

2. State Government of Madhya Pradesh is committed to the protection and conservation of lakes & wetlands in the state. The State Government from its own budget/resources implements “Conservation of Urban Water-bodies” (CUW) scheme for conservation of urban wetlands/lakes. Similarly, Urban Development and Administration Department, GoMP also supports lake restoration program for urban wetlands in the state of M.P.

3. Environmental Planning & Coordination Organization (EPCO) had earlier prepared district-wise atlas of all district headquarters of the state in phase-I. Similarly, in phase-II, EPCO has prepared district-wise “Lake Atlas” covering all the urban wetland and lakes of 31 districts of M.P.

4. Wetland conservation related important documents

1. Format for Preparation of "Brief Document" of Wetlands (Anex-6).
2. Guideline of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, GoI (Anex-7).
3. List of 120 wetlands of MP (Anex-8).
4. Integrated Management plan format (Anex-9).
5. Wetland Health Card format (Anex-10).
6. Wetland Mitra form and Process (Anex-11).