District Collector chairs workshop on wetland conservation at Kallakurichi

District Collector JE Padmaja chairing a district level wetlands stakeholders workshop at Kallakurichi. District Forest Officer V. Priyadarshini is present. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A district level workshop for wetland stakeholders was held at Kallakurichi Collectorate under the auspices of the Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority on Friday.

JE Collector Padmaja, presiding over the meeting, said the workshop was organized to speed up the process of notification of wetlands under the Wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules, 2017. The workshop also focused on the importance of wetlands and their role in protecting and maintaining ecological balance.

The training was also conducted in accordance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court of India for expeditious completion of field surveys, demarcation and notification of wetlands identified under the National Wetland Decadal Change Atlas – 2021.

Officials noted that Kallakurichi district has a total of 723 wetlands and discussions focused on the steps to be taken by the district administration and the forest department to ensure their conservation and sustainable management.

The Collector said the wetlands notification will help protect biodiversity while creating more opportunities for environmental management and sustainable livelihood development.

The meeting also discussed key components including Supreme Court guidelines; Wetland Conservation and Management Rules, 2017; the need to report wetlands; progress in field surveys and boundary delineation; verification of land records and income records; preparation of draft notices; interdepartmental coordination; development of proposals for Ramsar sites; and preparation of integrated management plans.

Ms. Padmaja said the workshop would help speed up the process of wetland notification in Kallakurichi district and further strengthen inter-departmental coordination for long-term conservation and sustainable management of these wetlands.

District Forest Officer V. Priyadarshini, District Rural Development Agency Project Director K. Ramesh Kumar; and officials from the Departments of Revenue, Forests, Public Works, and other line departments were present.

Published – 26 Jul 2026 22:04 IST