Coimbatore : In an attempt to bring into larger focus, the conservation of water bodies all over the State, the Madras High Court took up a suo motu adding the State level Authority and District authorities as respondents after request from senior consel.
Coimbatore : In an attempt to bring into larger focus, the conservation of water bodies all over the State, the Madras High Court took up a suo motu adding the State level Authority and District authorities as respondents after request from senior consel.
Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam directed the Registry after P.S. Raman, a senior counsel, stated that the participation of the authorities was important. Raman was was appointed as an Amicus Curiae for the case.
Raman, who is to submit a report by January 28, has also been offered permission by the court and a direction for assistance by different departments in the inspection of Pallikaranai marshland, Vedanthangal bird sanctuary and the Kazhuveli brackish water lake.
The decision was made after a preliminary report submitted by the counsul, which described wetlands as “Kidneys of the landscape” as their contribution to the ecosystem was similar by recycling nutrients, purifying water, attenuate floods, maintain stream flow, recharge groundwater and serve as a sustainable habitat for wildlife.
As per the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) conducted by the Space Applications Centre at Ahmedabad, wetlands were spread over 9,02,534 hectares in Tamil Nadu amounting to 6.92% of the geographical area.
While this is the case, he argued that many are still deprived of legal protection resulting in the manipulation and polluting of wetlands.
He also pointed that the State Governments have failed to furnish budget and expenditure statements for the preservation of lakes. The State of Tamil Nadu alone had received Rs. 5.03 crore under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems between 2003 and 2018, the actions of which have been futile.
He also recommended for the amending of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act of 1971 in order to enact a special legislation to protect wetlands and stop construction on wetlands.
He stressed for a comprehensive Conservation and Management Rule book for Wetlands to prevent encroachment and bringing back to life lost wetlands for the betterment of urban ecosystem.
Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam directed the Registry after P.S. Raman, a senior counsel, stated that the participation of the authorities was important. Raman was was appointed as an Amicus Curiae for the case.
Raman, who is to submit a report by January 28, has also been offered permission by the court and a direction for assistance by different departments in the inspection of Pallikaranai marshland, Vedanthangal bird sanctuary and the Kazhuveli brackish water lake.
The decision was made after a preliminary report submitted by the counsul, which described wetlands as “Kidneys of the landscape” as their contribution to the ecosystem was similar by recycling nutrients, purifying water, attenuate floods, maintain stream flow, recharge groundwater and serve as a sustainable habitat for wildlife.
As per the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) conducted by the Space Applications Centre at Ahmedabad, wetlands were spread over 9,02,534 hectares in Tamil Nadu amounting to 6.92% of the geographical area.
While this is the case, he argued that many are still deprived of legal protection resulting in the manipulation and polluting of wetlands.
He also pointed that the State Governments have failed to furnish budget and expenditure statements for the preservation of lakes. The State of Tamil Nadu alone had received Rs. 5.03 crore under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems between 2003 and 2018, the actions of which have been futile.
He also recommended for the amending of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act of 1971 in order to enact a special legislation to protect wetlands and stop construction on wetlands.
He stressed for a comprehensive Conservation and Management Rule book for Wetlands to prevent encroachment and bringing back to life lost wetlands for the betterment of urban ecosystem.