This story is from June 14, 2019

NIO appointed to study Goa’s 555 wetlands

The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has been appointed as an agency under the Goa State Wetland Authority to carry out ground study on the current status of wetlands in Goa, the new environment minister Nilesh Cabral said.
NIO appointed to study Goa’s 555 wetlands
Representative image
PANAJI: The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has been appointed as an agency under the Goa State Wetland Authority to carry out ground study on the current status of wetlands in Goa, the new environment minister Nilesh Cabral said.
Cabral, on Thursday, held a meeting with the officials of departments under the environment ministry. He said that once NIO completes the report, the process of declaring wetlands in the state can begin.
“As per satellite images, there are 555 wetlands in Goa, but NIO will carry out a study on ground to check if they still exist,” said Cabral.

As per the wetland atlas prepared in 2011 by the space application centre in Ahmedabad, there are 555 wetlands in Goa.
On Wednesday, the first special hearing was held by the wetland authority at Santa Cruz on declaring Bondvoll lake a wetland, where the villagers unanimously expressed the desire that the lake be called a wetland.
Based on the satellite images, NIO will now carry out actual identification, ground truthing and ecological characterisation of the wetlands. Accordingly, a public consultation will be held by the wetland authority, like in the case of Bondvoll. NIO will help fastrack the process of declaration of wetlands.

Being declared a wetland gives the area special protection, prohibiting construction and dumping of waste in the region.
Cabral also discussed biodiversity management committees in villages, which draw the detailed list of biodiversity of the village.
For some time now, Goa did not have an independent environment minister and the portfolio was held by the chief minister.
The environment minister holds the post of the chairperson of the Goa State Biodiversity Board. Now with the portfolio having an independent minister, there will be more time to spare for the issues related to biodiversity.
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