Bihar Wetland Authority Approves Key Decisions for Conservation of State’s Wetlands

Patna: The fourth meeting of the Bihar State Wetland Authority was held at Aranya Bhawan, chaired by the state’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister, Dr. Prem Kumar. The meeting focused on better management and conservation of the state’s wetlands, with Dr. K. Ganesh Kumar, Member Secretary, presenting the compliance status of the third meeting’s proceedings.

Several unanimous decisions were made during the meeting. Approval was granted to prepare brief documents, health cards, and form wetland friends for 33 wetlands larger than 100 hectares. Additionally, the authority received approval to take necessary actions to notify 36 wetlands under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

The Authority also approved the Integrated Management Plan for Kawartal, a Ramsar site under Begusarai Forest Division. Steps will be taken to propose five key wetlands—Monikaman and Narsan Chaur (Tirhut), Kathio Chaur (Begusarai), Sarotar Lake (Motihari), and Sonki Suiya Bhagar (Bhojpur)—for Ramsar site status.

The meeting was attended by representatives from several state departments, biodiversity and GIS experts, and members from Wetland International South Asia, among others, to deliberate on the way forward for wetland conservation efforts in Bihar.