Draft Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016
Q. Which of the following is/are true regarding the comparison between 2010 wetland conservation rules and draft 2016 rules?
1) The 2010 rules permitted 12 activities with prior permission while the 2016 rules do not address the issue of prior permission.
2) 2016 rules allows activities that make “wise use” of wetlands.
3) 2016 has a time bound procedure to notify wetlands once the rules come in force, unlike the 2010 rules which had no time limit.- Published on 10 Jun 16a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. None of the above
ANSWER: 1, 2
- 2010 Rules: 12 activities including fishing, boating, dredging, etc. are restricted without prior permission from the state government.
2016 Draft Rules: Do not address the issue of prior permission for any activity. - 2010 Rules: Activities prohibited in wetlands include reclamation, constructing permanent structures within 50 m, setting up or expanding industries, throwing waste, etc.
2016 Draft Rules: The entire list, apart from reclamation, has been deleted. Activities that make “wise use” of wetlands have been permitted. The state authority is to decide what does, and doesn’t, amount to “wise use”. - 2010 Rules: Wetlands have to be notified within a year of the Rules coming into force, and there are deadlines for each process along the way: 6 months for identification and classification, 30 days to send it to a research institute for reference and opinion, 90 days for the research institute to submit its opinion. The rest of the time is available for fulfilling notification formalities, which pass through the central authority.
2016 Draft Rules: Do away with the time-bound process for notification.
