Protection of wetlands should go hand in hand with legislation to prevent the razing of hills, Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar said here on Monday.Delivering the inaugural address at a seminar organised by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) in connection with the World Wetlands Day, he said destruction of hills was linked to reclamation of wetlands. "Razing of hills depletes groundwater and upsets the natural equilibrium. Soil plundered from hills is used to reclaim low-lying paddy fields and other wetlands, doubling the impact on the environment. "Hence, protection of wetlands and hills demands equal attention." Mr. Jayakumar said man's assault on nature was fuelled by myopic development objectives. He called for making conservation part of the development agenda. The government, he said, could only act as a catalyst. Mr. Jayakumar called for a participatory approach to conservation, involving all stakeholders. George Chackachery, coordinator, Wetland Technical Unit, said the government was studying a proposal to set up a State Wetland Authority. Management action plans for conservation of major lakes like the Ashtamudy, Sasthamkotta and Kottooly have been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, he added.
The Hindu, 3rd February 2009
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