PATNA: The state government will emphasize on four important announcements lakesThese include Udaipur Lake in West Champaran, Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary in Bhagalpur, Gogabeel Lake in Katihar and Gokul Reservoir in Buxar as iconic Ramsar sites.
A decision to this effect was taken in the third meeting of the Bihar State Wetland Authority (BSWA) on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Tej Pratap Yadav.
As for wetlands, BSWA also gave its approval to take steps to take necessary action for notification of 24 wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules, 2017.
In another important decision, budgetary provisions were approved for the conservation and development of wetlands under the fourth agriculture road map of the state government. To ensure the climate, work will be done in coordination with the Agriculture Department. Biodiversity protection, an official said. In the next phase, approval has also been given to prepare documents, health cards and ‘wetland mitra’ (local volunteers) of 45 wetlands in the state that are larger than 100 hectares. Apart from this, the Integrated Management Plan for Gokul Reservoir Wetland under Bhojpur Forest Division was approved. “This is the first time that we will spend on wetland management from the state plan. It is now a part of the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali mission and is also in the agriculture road map. We hope to prepare an integrated wetland management plan for some important wetlands,” secretary (environment, forest and climate change) Bandana Preyashi told TOI.
Other senior officials present in the meeting included Principal Secretary (Animal and Fisheries Resources) N Vijaya Lakshmi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Climate Change and Wetlands) N Jawahar Babu and Chief Wildlife Warden Prabhat Kumar Gupta.
According to sources, the total number of wetlands in the state is around 4,410, including around 3,000 natural and 1,410 man-made water bodies. Around 2,400 wetlands around the world are designated as Ramsar sites, including the Kabar Lake in Begusarai.
A decision to this effect was taken in the third meeting of the Bihar State Wetland Authority (BSWA) on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Tej Pratap Yadav.
As for wetlands, BSWA also gave its approval to take steps to take necessary action for notification of 24 wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules, 2017.
In another important decision, budgetary provisions were approved for the conservation and development of wetlands under the fourth agriculture road map of the state government. To ensure the climate, work will be done in coordination with the Agriculture Department. Biodiversity protection, an official said. In the next phase, approval has also been given to prepare documents, health cards and ‘wetland mitra’ (local volunteers) of 45 wetlands in the state that are larger than 100 hectares. Apart from this, the Integrated Management Plan for Gokul Reservoir Wetland under Bhojpur Forest Division was approved. “This is the first time that we will spend on wetland management from the state plan. It is now a part of the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali mission and is also in the agriculture road map. We hope to prepare an integrated wetland management plan for some important wetlands,” secretary (environment, forest and climate change) Bandana Preyashi told TOI.
Other senior officials present in the meeting included Principal Secretary (Animal and Fisheries Resources) N Vijaya Lakshmi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Climate Change and Wetlands) N Jawahar Babu and Chief Wildlife Warden Prabhat Kumar Gupta.
According to sources, the total number of wetlands in the state is around 4,410, including around 3,000 natural and 1,410 man-made water bodies. Around 2,400 wetlands around the world are designated as Ramsar sites, including the Kabar Lake in Begusarai.