Encroachment around Sarusala Beel. File picture

Aug. 8: Dispur has given the green signal for setting up Guwahati Waterbodies Regulatory Authority to protect wetlands from being converted for other purposes.

Sources said the authority, which will soon be set up, would ensure that a detailed environment impact assessment is carried out following the prescribed procedures and see to it that no wetland shall be converted to non-wetland use unless it is in public interest and detailed reasons justifying the decision are recorded. The power to convert a waterbody to non-waterbody use shall vest with the state.

“The chief minister directed setting up of the authority and it will be done soon,” the chief executive officer of the GMDA, M. Angamuthu, said.

He said this would be the only authority that would have all-pervading powers on management and supervision of wetlands in the city. Wetlands are areas of critical ecological significance as they support biodiversity and directly and indirectly support millions of people from storm and floods. They also ensure clean water supply and provide food, fibre and raw materials.

The initiative has been taken as lots of damage have been caused to wetlands with its water retention capacity having significantly dwindled over the years because of rampant encroachment resulting in an acute problem of waterlogging.

The ministry of environment and forests has already notified rules for conservation of wetlands which will ensure better management and prevent degradation of the existing wetlands.

The activities within the notified wetlands which shall be prohibited are conversion of wetlands to non-wetland use, reclamation of wetlands, setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries and manufacture, handling, storage or disposal of hazardous substances as specified in the ministry of environment and forests notifications.

The Kamrup (metro) district administration has already started taking action. It has marked all the waterbodies of the city and put up signboards prohibiting encroachment.

The signboard notifies the natural reservoirs as protected areas under Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Act, 2008. The administration has started taking action in demolishing illegal structures on some wetlands.

The waterbodies include Borsola Beel, Bondajan Beel, Deepor Beel, Sarusala Beel and Silsako Beel.

“There is a rule to enforce provisions of the act,” Angamuthu said.

The Guwahati Waterbodies Regulatory Authority will grant clearances for permissible activities in the wetlands within their respective jurisdictions, exercise regulatory functions, determine the zone of influence of the wetlands and issue broad guidelines for compliance by the state governments.

The rules say solid waste dumping if any, shall be phased out within a reasonable time period not exceeding one year from the date of notification of the wetland.

The rules say any activity which may have adverse impact on wetlands will not be allowed.

The 18-member regulatory authority will have a member secretary, with technical or science background from the GMDA, in the rank of additional director/joint director.

All the non-official members will be nominated by the Guwahati development department as and when required by issuing a notification in consultation either with the vice-chancellor, Gauhati University or principal, Assam Engineering College, or other appropriate authorities.