Authority for wetlands sought

Jabir Mushthari


 
The need for creating an authority for wetland management was stressed during the World Wetland Day observation programme organised by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) on its campus at Kunnamangalam in the district on Monday.
Organised in collaboration with the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, the programme discussed various measures including the introduction of more stringent guidelines to ensure the protection of the wetlands in the State.
The session attended by several water scientists, evaluated the general condition of the wetlands in the State and examined what citizens could do to ensure their protection. The discussion on the theme ‘Conservation of Wetlands of Kerala for our future,’ also gave explanations for why these vital water bodies should be important for the existence of life on earth.
C. Unnikrishna Warrier, scientist, Isotope Hydrology Division of the centre, explained how different isotopes could be applied to predict the shrinkage of wetlands in different regions. He presented the details based on a case study conducted at the Wetlands in Sasthamkotta in Kollam. Scientist and head of the Geomatics Division of the centre V.P. Dinesan elucidated the possible impacts of the interlinking of Pamba and Achencoil rivers on the Vembanad wetland system.
Head of the Thiruvananthapuram sub-centre of CWRDM George Chackacherry spoke about the management of wetlands in the State while head of the Water Quality Division of the Centre P.S. Harikumar talked about the water quality management of wetlands. Wetland Technical Unit coordinator of KSCSTE P. Harinarayanan gave details of the legal and institutional aspects of wetland conservation.
M.K. Raghavan, MP, inaugurated the programme, which was presided over by the CWRDM executive director N.B. Narasimha Prasad. Mr. Raghavan also presented the prizes for the winners of competitionsorganised by the centre in connection with the World Wetland Day.

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