Summary:
Pilibhit: In an effort to replenish rapidly depleting groundwater in Uttar Pradesh, the State Wetland Authority (SWA) has identified 1.23 lakh wetlands across the state for conservation and protection.Of the 1.23 lakh wetlands, as many as 26,000 water bodies are spread over 2.5 hectares each and 97,000 are smaller than that. “After receiving field reports, the state government will notify the wetlands. “The action plan also includes awareness programmes for local communities, in addition to educating them about the importance of wetlands for the future of vegetation, humans and animals,” he added. “Since countless water bodies disappeared due to illegal possession and construction, the existing wetlands urgently needed protection under stringent law,” said Ranjan.In the first phase, SWA will focus primarily on wetlands stretched over 2.5 hectares. The order to preserve and protect wetlands was issued by principal secretary, forest, Kalpana Awasthi and SWA chief executive officer Vibhash Ranjan during a video conferencing with senior forest officials on Wednesday.The government has, meanwhile, entrusted forest officials with the task to file a 25-point comprehensive field report on the status of the identified wetlands and their supporting features for further action..