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New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Four more wetlands in Kerala move a step closer to Ramsar tag
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major boost to wetland conservation efforts in Kerala, four ecologically significant wetlands -- Vellayani and Akkulam-Veli in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottooli in Kozhikode, and the Kattampally-Valapattanam-Kuppam wetland complex in Kannur -- have moved a step closer to securing the Ramsar site status. The draft Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS) for these wetlands have been prepared by the State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK) and will be submitted to the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF&CC) soon. Once approved, these wetlands will be included in the prestigious Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, which currently includes 75 sites from India -- the highest number among Asian countries. Environment department director Suneel Pamidi told TNIE that getting the Ramsar site status will help the state make a more focused effort to conserve these sites. 'It's an international recognition and the status will help get international funding for conservation efforts. SWAK will send the proposal to the Union government which will then submit it to the Ramsar Secretariat. These sites will get the status once the Ramsar Secretariat approves it,' Pamidi said. He said the process is going to be lengthy. 'We selected these sites which meet all the criteria designed by Ramsar. These are unique wetlands with rich diversity and important species of flora and fauna, birds and significant fish resources,' he said. SWAK is expected to approve the proposal in the next meeting to be held in August. Currently, Kerala has three Ramsar Sites -- Ashtamudi, Sasthamkotta and Vembanad Kol. An official with SWAK said the action plans for these sites have already been set in motion and are being executed with the participation of the local community, NGOs, and multiple stakeholders including local bodies.
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala HC directs State government and SWAK to constitute Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit
The Kerala High Court has directed the State government and the State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK) to constitute an Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit for the conservation of the wetland within two months of a notification being issued for this. In addition, an integrated management plan for the wetland must be finalised within six months. The direction by a Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji came when the court considered a public interest litigation (PIL)recently against rampant waste dumping and encroachments in the Ashtamudi wetland, which in turn was causing water pollution and the destruction of mangrove forests. The second biggest wetland in Kerala, the Ashtamudi lake was designated a Ramsar site in 2002. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, considering their role in biodiversity, flood control, water purification, and livelihood support. In the PIL, Boris Paul, lawyer, and Kollam-based Help Foundation had sought a court directive to remove the encroachers and to form an independent monitoring committee to continuously monitor the lake's conservation measures. A sanitation survey done by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) around the lake in 2020-2022 revealed serious health risks due to poor waste management. Open defecation around Ashtamudi was contributing to the spread of waterborne diseases, while 18% of households discharged toilet waste directly into the waterbody. Heavy pollution A report of the Committee on Environment of the Kerala Legislative Assembly submitted on 17, March, 2023 stated that the Ashtamudi wetland faced heavy pollution, encroachments, and siltation. Its area reduced from 61.40 sq. kms. to 34 sq. kms, while its depth reduced to less than half a metre in many areas. Mangroves and crucial fish-breeding grounds have almost disappeared and fishers dependent on this wetland were on the verge of losing their livelihoods. Human waste, chemicals and untreated hospital and commercial waste entered the wetland through the Kollam canal. Tourism-related waste and plastic accumulation in the Kollam and Neendakara backwaters, sand mining, unregulated housing and rampant pesticide use were too were issues. In 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a penalty of ₹10 crore on the State government for its failure to protect the Ashtamudi lake and other wetlands. Since no concrete measures were taken, the petitioners filed the PIL. Two requirements The court said cited two requirements as essential for the conservation of the Ashtamudi wetland – a dedicated authority consisting of various stakeholders and experts and a site-specific, scientific, and comprehensive management plan. Both are not in place for the wetland so far. The Ramsar Convention emphasises the need to have a dedicated authority for each of the wetlands of international importance and a site-specific management plan for it. Disposing off the PIL, the court also directed that a standard operating procedure must be formulated by the Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit to govern its functioning while specifying modalities like the venue, frequency of its meetings and the mechanism for co-ordination among stakeholders. In addition, the unit must have its own website or a dedicated web page hosted on the official website of SWAK with a feedback mechanism for the public. SWAK must develop a digital feedback mechanism (web/social media) for the general public to upload/share audio-visual materials.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Sewage woes: SWAK seeks urgent action
T'puram: State Wetland Authority of Kerala (SWAK) has taken a firm stance against the alleged discharge of wastewater from the zoo into Amayizhanjan canal, urging museum and zoo department for immediate intervention. This comes after the zoo faced a Rs 50,000 fine from city corporation for releasing untreated wastewater into local drains, causing significant public nuisance earlier this year. The zoo's sewage treatment plant has been non-functional for years, leading to waste accumulation in nearby areas like Kanaka Nagar and Nanthancode. The untreated wastewater flows into a drain linked to Pattom Thodu, a tributary of Amayizhanchan Thodu, raising alarms due to its proximity to key govt offices, including CM's residence. The situation has sparked outrage among residents and environmentalists, prompting formal complaints to museums and zoo department, state pollution control board and
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Lake protection: Kerala HC proposes formation of Ashtamudi wetland authority
Kochi: High court on Thursday proposed the formation of the Ashtamudi Local Wetland Authority (ALWA) to implement the management plan for Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam. The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji was considering a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Adv Boris Paul and others, which highlighted that the depletion and deterioration of the Ashtamudi wetlands are due to multiple factors, including pollution from drainage discharge and encroachments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The petitioners emphasised the need for an authority other than the State Wetland Authority of Kerala (SWAK) to oversee the conservation and protection of the lake. Initially, the state govt opposed the suggestion, contending that the constitution of a separate authority other than SWAK may not be necessary. However, considering the current condition of Ashtamudi Lake, which is a notified Ramsar site, the court concurred with the petitioners' suggestion. A Ramsar site is a wetland identified as being of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands which is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. The court, meanwhile, also took note of the petitioners' point that the indiscriminate discharge of sewage and solid waste from residential areas and commercial establishments into the lake has been a major concern. HC observed that, in addition to the general supervision by the state wetland authority, specific attention through a dedicated authority or committee for the Ashtamudi wetland is necessary. It further directed the state govt to clarify whether an integrated management plan has been prepared for the Ashtamudi wetland, as envisaged under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and the guidelines of the Ramsar Convention. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was also suggested that the members of ALWA may be drawn from various departments. The court stated that the environment department principal secretary shall finalise the composition of the committee and recommend one expert each in wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socio-economics, along with two experts in wetland management, preferably with expertise related to the Ashtamudi wetland. The principal secretary shall file an affidavit indicating the procedure by which the Authority will function. Accordingly, HC adjourned the petition to July 1.
