CAG raps Guj for failing to set up wetland conservation

The CAG today slammed the Gujarat government for failing to form an authority towards conservation of wetlands in the state and not declaring 19 wetlands of being that of national importance.
The CAG report, which was tabled today in the state Assembly, also pointed out that the state government did not provide adequate funds for wetland conservation activities and failed to maintain data on migratory birds, set up Bird Rescue Centres at three largest wetlands, and control bird poaching at Nalsarovar and Wadhwana Lake.
The performance audit of wetlands, covering a period between April 2009 and March 2015, is part of the CAG report.

"The government needs to establish State Wetland Conservation Authority (SWCA) in a time-bound manner and prioritise the framing of policy/guidelines for conservation of wetlands other than those having been identified as of national importance," the GAG report said.
"There was no policy framed by the state department of Forests and Environment, for wetlands other than those identified as having national importance," it observed.
"Further, 19 other wetlands were identified as deserving to be declared as that of national importance and two wetlands having high ecological value deserved to be declared as important wetlands," it said.

However, these wetlands were not declared so by the department or conserved accordingly, the report added.

According to a report by Gujarat Biodiversity Board, 19 wetlands deserved to be declared as that of national importance. There are eight wetlands of national importance which receive funds from Centre. Of these, state government did not prepare Management Action Plans (MAP) for four wetlands, and had no Annual Plan of Operation (APO) for three wetlands.
MAPs are submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for fund allocation for wetlands of national importance for a period of 3-5 years.
After MAPs approval, funds are released annually to the state as per the APOs.
During the audit period, government received Rs 3.78 crore sanctioned for the conservation of wetlands and related research activities, of which only Rs 3.17 crore was utilised.

"The government also failed to maintain data on birds related to their life, movements and population parameters," the CAG said.
The Bird Rescue Centres set up at Nal Sarovar and Thol lakes also lacked facilities. Also, poaching at wetlands were not properly curbed, it stated.