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TAMIL NADU STATE WETLAND AUTHORITY

TAMIL NADU STATE WETLAND AUTHORITY

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India notified the new Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 on 26 Sept. 2017 replacing the 2010 version of the rules under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The new rules stipulate setting up of a State Wetlands Authority in each State and union territories that will be headed by the State’s Minister In-Charge of the Department of Environment/Forests or Minister in Charge of the Department handling wetlands and also includes officials from line departments, one expert each in the fields of wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socioeconomics to be nominated by the state government and the Wetlands Authority may co-opt other members, not exceeding three in number. It is recommended that at least one member may be drawn from civil society to enable stakeholder representation.

The State authorities will also need to prepare a list of all wetlands of the State or union territory within three months, a list of wetlands to be notified within six months, a comprehensive digital inventory of all wetlands within one year which will be updated every ten years.

As per the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules 2017, the Government of Tamil Nadu has reconstituted the “Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority” under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister (Forests) vide G.O. (Ms).No. 219, Environment and Forests (FR5) Department, dated 24.12.2024.

Composition of Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority

(i) Hon’ble Minister (Forests) Chairperson
(ii) Chief Secretary to Government Vice – Chairperson
(iii) Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests Department Member ex-officio
(iv) Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department Member ex-officio
(v) Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Member ex-officio
(vi) Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department Member ex-officio
(vii) Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandary, Dairying and Fisheries Department Member ex-officio
(viii) Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department Member ex-officio
(ix) Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary to Government, Revenue and Disaster Management Department Member ex-officio
(x) Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board Member ex-officio
(xi) Professor and Director, Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University Member ex-officio
(xii) Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Member ex-officio
(xiii) Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Bio-diversity Board Member ex-officio
(xiv) Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the Regional Office of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Member ex-officio
(xv) Under clause (xvii) of Rule 5(I) of the Wildlife (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. One expert each in the fields of Wetland Ecology, Hydrology, Fisheries, Landscape Planning and Socio-economics.

(a) Dr. TV. Ramachandra, Co-ordinator, Energy & Wetlands Research Group (CES TE 15) Centre for Ecological Sciences New BIOSCIENCE BUILDING, Third Floor, E Wing (Near D Gate) INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, Bangalore 560 012. (Expert in Wetland Ecology)

(b). Dr. V. SeIvam, 23, Thillai Natarajar Road, Kanagasabai Nagar, Chidambaram — 608 001. Cuddalore District. (Expert in Hydrology)

(c) Dr. S. Felix, Former Vice ChanceIIor, TNJFU Founder Chairman, AQUAFIN D-3 Grace Castle, Vaanavil Vasal Senthil Nagar Sixth Street, Perungudi, Chennai — 600 096. (Expert in Fisheries)

(d) Dr. K. Sankar, Former Director, SACON, MOEFCC 13/14 State Bank Colony, Extension of 7th Cross Street, Shastri Nagar, Adayar, Chennai — 600 020. (Expert in Landscape Planning)

(e) Dr. Vineeta Hoon, Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and Society, 160 Sivananda Road, Gillnagar ext 2, Chennai - 600 094. (Expert in Socio-Economics) 		Members
(xvi) Principal Chief Conservator of Forests /Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and /Chief Conservator of Forests Member Secretary

The Government co-opted the following person from Civil Society as per para (13) of Guideline for the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017:-

Thiru. Darwin Annadurai, 852, Kalaivanar Salai, Dhayakar Avenue, Chitlapakkam,Chennai-600 064

Functions of the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority

• Prepare a comprehensive list of wetlands in the State.

• Prepare list of wetlands to be notified under Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

• Recommend identified wetlands for regulation based on their brief documents

• Prepare digital inventory of all wetlands and uploading them.

• Develop comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and permitted within notified wetlands

• Recommend additions to the list of prohibited activities

• Define strategies for conservation and wise use of wetlands

• Review integrated management plan for each of the notified wetlands

• In cases where lands within boundary of notified wetlands or wetlands complex have private tenancy rights, recommend mechanisms for maintenance of ecological character through promotional activities

• Identify mechanisms for convergence of implementation of the management plan

• Ensure enforcement of Wetland (Conservation & Management) Rules 2017.

• Coordinate the implementation of integrated management plans

• Function as nodal authority for all wetland specific authorities within the State

• Issue necessary directions for conservation and sustainable management of wetlands to the respective implementing agencies

• Create awareness among local community about the importance of wetlands.

• Advise on any other matter suo-motu, or as referred by the State Government.