Context: Rajasthan Government is acting proactively to protect the wetland ecosystem of the state with 52 wetlands earmarked for time-bound development.

• Efforts are being made in Rajasthan to protect the wetlands which have played an important role in the storage of sediment and nutrients.
• While six wetlands are already identified in the State, 52 more have been earmarked for time-bound development.

Steps taken

• Such wetlands are being identified to stop encroachments on them and enable the local authorities to maintain them.
• The wetlands would be strengthened for increasing vegetation of aquatic plants and protecting biodiversity.
• No waste would be allowed to be dumped at the wetlands and effective steps would be taken for water conservation.
• Strict action would be taken against those running submersible pump sets for illegal salt mining in the world-famous Sambhar Lake.
• A large number of migratory birds died last year in the Sambhar Lake.
• The State Government’s Directorate of Environment and Climate Change will function as the secretariat of the State Wetland Authority.
• Environment committees would take up the works for the conservation of wetlands and water bodies.
• Fresh and saline lakes supporting unique ecosystems in the State would be protected with the strict implementation of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2019.

Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2019

• As per the Wetlands Rules, the Wetlands Authority within a state is the nodal authority for all wetland-specific authorities in a state/UT.
• The Wetlands Authorities are responsible for ensuring the enforcement of the Wetlands Rules and other relevant acts, rules and regulations.

Prohibited activities under the rules:

• Setting up any industry and expansion of existing industries on wetlands.
• Dumping solid waste or discharge of untreated wastes and effluents.
• Encroachment or conversion of wetlands for non-wetland uses.

Importance of Wetlands

• Wetland systems help check floods, prevent coastal erosion and mitigate the effects of natural disasters like cyclones and tidal waves. They store water for long periods.
• Their capacity during heavy rainfall to retain excess floodwater that would otherwise cause flooding results in maintaining a constant flow regime downstream, preserving water quality and increasing biological productivity for both aquatic life as well as human communities of the region.
• Flooded wetlands are very effective in storing rainwater and are the primary source for recharging groundwater aquifers.
• Wetlands provide shelter to wading birds, waterfowl and mammals.