Punjab government re-constitutes steering committee for conservation and management of wet lands in state

Chandigarh, September 18, 2014:  The Punjab government has reconstituted the Steering Committee for the Conservation and Management of Wetlands in Punjab aimed at promoting an environmentally harmonious plan for conservation and management of wetlands in Punjab under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Punjab.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the government said that the Principal Secretary Science and Technology and Environment would be the Vice Chairman.
It may be added that the state was already coordinating with various agencies engaged in revamping the wetland project, as wetlands are considered to be one of the most productive aquatic ecosystems. The spokesman said that Punjab is home to three internationally acclaimed wetlands - Harike, Kanjli and Ropar - and three others including the Keshopur wetland.He said that wetlands have a profound impact on the economy of the villages surrounding it. He also said that the committee would look into the promotion of inter-departmental and inter-sectoral coordination for integrated action for conservation and management of wetlands in Punjab besides identifying the problems in the proper maintenance of Harike, Kanjli, Ropar and Ranjit Sagar Wetlands and suggest remedial measures to be adopted to overcome these problems. He said that committee would also evaluate plans and proposals of all departments of the Government which have a bearing on the future of wetland resources and also monitor the progress of implementation of management plans and to regulate, screen and monitor development activities which have a bearing on the Wetland Ecosystems.
The other members of committee would be the Additional Secretary Union Ministry of Environment & Forests, representative of the Indian Army, Financial Commissioner (Development), Government of Punjab, Financial Commissioner to Government of Punjab, Deptt. of Forest & Wildlife, Principal Secretary to, Irrigation & Power, Principal Secretary Tourism & Culture, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Punjab , Chief Wildlife Warden Punjab, Chief Conservator of Soils, Punjab, Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala, Member Secretary, Punjab Biodiversity Board, Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, Deputy Commissioner Tarn Taran , Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, Deputy Commissioner, Ropar , Member of Parliament, Khadoor Sahib , Deputy Commissioner, Pathankot , Vice Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Representative, Zoological Survey of India, Dehradun , Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal ,Nirmal Kutia, Vill Seechewal, PO: Chak Chela,Teh. Shahkot, District Jalandhar. He also said that the representatives of Zoological Survey of India, Dehradun, Botanical Survey of India, Dehradun , Centre for Environment Education, New Delhi would also be the members.
The term of the Committee shall be for three years or till the new committee is constituted whichever is earlier. The Committee shall meet from time to time as required, he added.
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