STATE WETLAND AUTHORITY (MP SWA), EPCO

Wetlands occur where water meets land. “Wetland" means an area of water; whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with is static or flowing, fresh (Lakes, ponds, tanks, marsh, peatland), brackish or salt, including areas of marine water  (coastal lagoons, rocky shores, and coral reefs) the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters, but does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes.

MoEFCC, GoI has issued the Wetlands Rules, 2017 (Anex-1) in place of Wetlands Rules, 2010 and Guideline for Implementing of Rules (Anex-2). As per the Wetland Rule 2017, the GoMP have constituted the State Wetland Authority of Madhya Pradesh (MPSWA) vide order dated 02.01.18 with Minister of Environment, GoMP as the Chairperson, Chief Secretary to Government of MP as the Vice Chairperson, Secretaries of the stakeholders department as ex-officio members.  Government of MP also declared Environment Department as the Nodal Department and Environmental Planning & Coordination Organization (EPCO) as the Secretariat of SWA. Executive Director of EPCO is the Member Secretary of the MP State Wetland Authority (Anex-3). Government of Madhya Pradesh has nominated five subject experts and three co-opted members (Anex-4) in the State Wetland Authority. A Technical and Grievance committee as required under the Rules have been constituted (Anex-5).  A separate website of MPSWA has been created Detail information about SWA can be obtained at http://swa.mp.gov.in

   1. MP State Wetland Authority has completed following works -

      i. Digital Inventory and GIS Web Portal developed by SWA, EPCO.

• SWA has prepared Wetlands Inventory of Madhya Pradesh having area > 2.25 ha. On this basis of wetlands inventory data, GIS based Web portal has been designed and developed in coordination with MAP-IT, Bhopal which is up and running
• The web portal URL is https://geoportal.mp.gov.in/epco/login.aspx the web portal includes information on 11 fields such as of district/village wise wetlands, Wetland area, coordinates, code, boundary, drainage/river information along with basin. National and State Highway, railways, administrative boundaries up to village level, habitation etc.  

      ii. Conservation and management plan of wetlands of Madhya Pradesh –

      iii. Wetland Rejuvenation Programme Phase I &  II, MoEF&CC, GoI –

•  As per the information received from respective district collectors 2 wetlands of each district from the state has been identified and list of 120 wetlands submitted to MoEF&CC, GoI. 
• These wetlands have been selected for preparing Wetland Health Cards and subsequent Conservation Plan.
• The MoEF&CC, GoI has given a format for Wetland Health Cards, which includes Hydrology, Area, Water quality, Biodiversity and Policy and other rules. According to all the parameters each wetland indicates a category, which defines status of their ecological health.
• MP SWA has prepared and submitted about 110 Wetland Health Cards to MoEF&CC, GoI.
• Preparation of remaining wetland health card based on water quality analysis is in progress.

iv.     MP SWA had earlier received 29 wetland brief documents; however these brief documents are lacking in terms of zone of influence maps and other scientific information. These are being revised in association with district officials.

v. Hands on training program organized for strengthening capacity of wetlands stakeholder departments for preparation of Integrated Management Plan (IMP), Health Card etc.

vi. MoEF&CC, GoI had indentified 09 potential wetland candidates from Madhya Pradesh for designating them as Ramsar site Out of these, 3 wetlands have been identified for designating as Ramsar site. Ramsar Information Sheet of Sirpur Wetland, Indore is being prepared in house.

vii. World Wetlands Day was celebrated on 2nd February 2021; with theme "Wetlands & Water".  The programme was organized to raise awareness and to highlight the vital role & importance of wetlands and its biodiversity. “Self Guided Wetland Walk” and “Bird watching” at Van Vihar, Bhoj Wetland, Bhopal was organized followed by a daylong Workshop on theme of “Wetlands & Water”.

Hon’ble Environment Minister, GoMP, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, GoMP, Additional Chief Secretary, P&RD, GoMP and Member Secretary of SWA graced the occasion.

viii. A review meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, GoMP was organized on 3^rd February 2021 for inter departmental coordination.

ix. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh laid the foundation stone for Amrit Sagar Conservation and Management project of Ratlam on 4^th February 2021 and presented cheque amounting to Rs. 4 crore to Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Ratlam as first instalment.

x. First meeting of State Wetland Authority was convened under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of Environment, GoMP on 22^nd February 2021.

2. State Government of Madhya Pradesh is committed to the protection and conservation of lakes & wetlands in the state. The State Government from its own resources implements “Conservation of Urban Water-bodies” (CUW) scheme for conservation of urban wetlands/lakes. Similarly, Urban Development and Administration Department, GoMP also supports lake restoration program for urban wetlands in the state of M.P.

3. Environmental Planning & Coordination Organization (EPCO) had earlier prepared district-wise atlas of all district headquarters of the state in phase-I. Similarly, in phase-II, EPCO has prepared district-wise “Lake Atlas” covering all the urban wetland and lakes of 31 districts of M.P.

For details please visit http://swa.mp.gov.in

4. Wetland conservation related important documents

          I. Format for Preparation of "Brief Document" of Wetlands (Anex-6).

         II. Guideline of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, GoI (Anex-7).

        III. List of 120 wetlands of MP (Anex-8).

       IV. Integrated Management plan format (Anex-9).

        V. Wetland Health Card format (Anex-10).

       VI. Wetland Mitra form and Process (Anex-11).