Wetland management authorities to be set up

The government has initiate dsteps to set up authorities for conservation and scientific management of wetlands and river basins, water resource minister N.K.Premachandran said. The authorities would have statutory powers to check reclamation and pollution of wetlands and regulate sand mining from water bodies. He said the department of water resource was working on provisions to accord legislative support to the proposed authorities. The authorities would comprise scientific experts, stakeholder departments and organizations, non-governmental organizations and local self government institutions. Local bodies would have a key role in preserving the remaining wetlands.

The Hindu, February 3^rd ൨൦൦൮

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