Hauz Khas, Sanjay lakes on list of 10 water bodies that may soon be notified as wetlands

• A seven-member technical committee has recommended 10 wetlands for notification by the government.
• Over two years after it was constituted, the Wetlands Authority of the Delhi government is inching closer towards notifying 10 wetlands out of 1,040 water bodies identified.

Wetland Authority of India:

• The Wetlands Authority was constituted only in 2019, two years after the rules were notified.
• Though the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules were notified in 2017, no water body in Delhi has been notified as a wetland so far.
• In Delhi, the DDA owns the maximum number of water bodies — 833.
• The South MCD owns 13, while the ASI controls 15, and the forest department 18.
• These are the Sanjay Lake, Hauz Khas Lake, Bhalswa Lake, Welcome Jheel, Najafgarh Jheel, and water bodies in Sultanpur Dabas, Daryapur Kalan, Smriti Van (Kondli), Smriti Van (Vasant Kunj), and Poth Kalan.

Importance of Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM)

• The centre is aimed to work towards the conservation, restoration and management of India’s wetlands.
• The dedicated Centre would help in addressing specific research needs and knowledge gaps.
• It would serve as a knowledge hub and enable exchange between State/ UT Wetland Authorities, wetland users, managers, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.
• It will help in building partnerships and networks with relevant national and international agencies.
• Furthermore, it will aid in the application of integrated approaches for conservation, management and wise use of the wetlands.
• It would also assist the national and State/UT Governments in the design and implementation of policy and regulatory frameworks, management planning, monitoring and targeted research for wetlands conservation.