State to lose control over water bodies

Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran said here on Saturday that the Regulatory Framework for Wetlands Conservation proposed by the Union government could force the State to give up administrative control over water bodies like the Sasthamcotta, Vembanad and Ashtamudi freshwater lakes.Delivering the inaugural address at a discussion on the draft notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, he said many provisions in the proposed framework were cause for concern. The Minister said the proposal to bring wetlands listed in Category A under a Central Wetlands Conservation Committee would force the State to relinquish administrative control over the three major freshwater lakes. "Regulation and administration of wetlands is a State subject. The State government is working on an action plan for wetland conservation involving various departments. Moves are on to constitute a statutory authority for the purpose," he said. Mr. Premachandran said the need for a Central agency to manage wetlands in Kerala was questionable in this context. "The State may have to comply with the regulatory framework if it is made a condition for release of funds from the Union government. But it will be a serious setback to Centre-State relations and the decentralisation process," he said.The Minister pointed out that Kerala may not be represented in the proposed Central Wetlands Conservation Committee. "It will be impossible to include all States in the 17-member committee. If so, it will be a denial of natural justice." He said States must retain control over wetlands. "The Centre can provide funds and monitor their management," the Minister added.He said the enabling provisions in the draft notification for conversion or reclamation of wetlands could not be seen as a positive message. "The draft of the State legislation on the subject has more prohibitive and restrictive provisions."Executive Vice-President of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) E.P. Yesodharan presided.

The Hindu, 28^th September 2008