SWAK

State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK)

As per section 5(1) of the new Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017, State Government vide G.O.(Ms.) No.14/2017/Envt. dt. 28-12-2017) , has reconstituted SWAK and designated Hon’ble Minister for Environment as Chairman, the Chief Secretary to Government as Vice Chairperson and the Director of Environment and Climate Change as the Member Secretary of the newly constituted State wetland Authority.

Powers of State Wetlands Authority Kerala

State Wetlands Authority Kerala has the power to list all wetlands and wetlands to be notified in the State
Recommend identified wetlands based on their Brief Documents for regulation
Carry out comprehensive digital inventorisation of all wetlands
Develop a comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and permitted within the notified wetlands
Define strategies for conservation and wise use of wetlands within their jurisdiction
Rreview integrated management plan for each of the notified wetlands
Ensure enforcement of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules,2017
Advise on any other matter suo-motu, or as referred by the State Government/ Union Territory Administration.

Function of State Wetlands Authority Kerala

SWAK function as nodal authority for all wetland specific authorities within the State
Identifies mechanisms for convergence by coordinating implementation of integrated management plans of through various line departments.
Issue necessary directions for conservation and sustainable management of wetlands to the respective implementing agencies
Undertake measures for enhancing awareness within stakeholders and local communities on values and functions of wetlands.

Activities in the year 2023-24

As part of the notification of the wetlands in the State, the 40 wetlands to be notified in the state were divided into 2 phases (each phase comprising 20 wetlands). Brief Documents of 20 wetlands of Phase I of the notification of Wetlands prepared and placed before the Authority Meeting.
District level consultation meeting for LSGs were conducted in two stages during February 2024. Training was given to LSG Secretaries on the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and its provisions including the implementation guidelines and how to raise disputes through a dedicated web portal initiated by SWAK and KSREC.
The Draft Integrated Management Plan of Vembanad-Kol wetland was prepared and placed before the Authority meeting for approval.
The revision of the approved Integrated Management Action Plan (IMP) of Sasthamkotta fresh water lake is being carried out in the GEF sponsored Integrated Management of Wetland Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IMWBES) project.
Wetlands International South Asia along with the SWAK team, initiated the revision of Management Action Plan of Ashtamudi wetland.
Preliminary data collection for the preparation of Integrated Management Plan for Vellayani Lake was initiated.
State Wetland Authority Kerala is taking necessary steps to include four more wetlands in the Ramsar list. As part of this, draft Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS) of Aakkulam-Veli, Vellayani Lake, Kottuli and Kattampally-Valapattanam-Kuppam Wetland Complex have been completed. The above RIS has been approved by the technical committee of Wetland Authority and placed before the Authority meeting for approval, which was planned to be held in January, 2024.
An integrated web portal and mobile application have been developed to ensure the contribution of ‘citizen scientists’ registered as ‘Wetland Mitras’ in the management of Ramsar wetlands.
Continuous operational and regular water quality monitoring is being carried out by CWRDM under Wetland Inventory Assessment and Monitoring System (WIAMS) project in Ashtamudi, Sasthamkotta and Vembanad- Kol as per the last approved management action plans for the three Ramsar Wetlands. The data is already uploaded in the Wetland Inventory Assessment and Monitoring System (WIAMS) portal and the same will be available for different stakeholders and public. Final testing has been carried out by KELTRON and the same is ready to be launched. Based on the results, a pollution abatement plan is also being prepared by CWRDM.
Catchment conservation measures for the three Ramsar Wetlands through Soil Survey and Soil Conservation Department has been initiated and successfully progressing.
Waterbird census project in the three Ramsar sites awarded to Kerala Agricultural University. This data also will be available in the WIAMS web portal.
The house boat upgradation project (Conversion of Diesel engine to Hybrid engine) in Vembanad- Kol wetland complex has been sought by SWAK from Kerala House Boat Owners Association (KHBOA), Alappuzha. The project proposal has been approved in June 2024 as a pilot project and agreement has been executed for the implementation of the project as part of the approved management action plan (MAP) of Vembanad-Kol wetland complex. The project implementation progressing successfully.
‘Sustainable clam cultivation and enhanced livelihood for the Vembanad Estuary’ Project was entrusted to CERC- ATREE and implemented as part of the approved management action plan (MAP) of Vembanad-Kol wetland complex. The project has been successfully completed and the major achievements of the project were clam relaying initiative, bamboo barriers installation, awareness creation, training on clam value addition and plastic waste collection from the estuary bottom sediment bed & recycling.
As part of the ‘Swatchchata Pakhwara” campaign ATREE in association with SWAK organized a clean-up drive in Pathiramanal Island during October 2023 to show the visible impact of plastic pollution. Registered Wetland Mitras of the wetland complex along with Lake Protection Forum, NCC/SPC students from A P Vilasam HSS, Muhamma Grama Panchayath Harithakarmasena members were engaged for the removal of plastics from the island. The results of these clean- up efforts were showcased through photos and news coverage to generate awareness in local communities and tourists.
Alternate Coir retting project in Ashtamudi entrusted to FERI Trust. The project has been successfully completed and the major achievements of the project were delignification of coir pith, recovery of lignin and in-situ mode of effluent treatment and recycling.
Climate resilient farming will be implemented through Munroethuruth Agricultural Office and the Munroethuruth Grama Panchayath. The Munroethuruth Grama Panchayath submitted the proposal on 10.05.2024 and DPR on 21.05.2024, which has been approved and the agreement has been executed.
Special Assistance to Munroethuruthu Grama Panchayat for Sustainable Rejuvenation - Funding from the SWAK for five years as part of the Integrated Management Action Plan (IMP) of Ashtamudi Ramsar Wetland: Rs. 74.80 lakh was released in the FY 2018-19. Out of 74.80 lakhs, an expenditure of 41.24 lakhs and an unspent balance of 33.56 lakhs was made by Munroe GP as of April 6, 2024. Munroe GP was asked to submit an action plan and DPR for the unspent balance. The DPR has been approved and the new agreement signed between Member Secretary, SWAK and Secretary, Munroethuruth Grama Panchayath.
SWAK in association with KSCADC have successfully completed the 3-day workshop on 'Code of conduct for sustainable fisheries in Ashtamudi Estuary'.
Kollam municipal corporation was directed to revise its project in compliance with the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 and to comply with the orders of the Hon’ble NGT(PB) in OA 147/2022. The project entitled ‘Jeevananu Ashtamudi, Jeevikkanam Ashtamudi’ - Rejuvenation of Ashtamudi Water body by Kollam Municipal Corporation is a major intervention in the case of removal of sludge and wastes near the Asramam area of the Ashtamudi Ramsar wetland. Officials from State Wetland Authority Kerala visited the Asramam region of Ashtamudi and observed physical progress of the project in the wetland on 3.10.2023. The silts and waste materials near the Asramam link road were removed using silt pusher. Directions were also given to all the Local Self Governments near the wetland to make sure that no wastes are deposited in the wetlands, invoking the statutory
World Wetlands Day 2024 was observed in association with KSMDB College, Sasthamkotta; Fatima Mata National College, Kollam ; Sacred Hearts College, Thevara; SN College, Cherthala; KSCSTE-CWRDM; Kottayam Nature Society; Govt. College, Ambalapuzha and University of Kerala, Karyavattom campus, Thiruvananthapuram.

Activities in the year 2022-23

Activities in the year 2021-22

Activities on the year 2020-21

Prepared draft list of 40 wetlands proposed to be notified along with their boundary and draft comprehensive list of all the wetlands in the State comprising all the forms of wetlands and paddy fields having area >2.25 Ha (186 major wetlands and 10785 paddy fields) and was placed in the SWAK Authority meeting held on 18.06.2020 under the Chairman-ship of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala.
The second SWAK Authority meeting was held on 18.06.2020 under the Chairman-ship of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala.
State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK) observed the World Wetlands Day 2020 in association with Malabar Awareness and Rescue Centre for Wildlife (MARC), Kannur and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) Alappuzha. A book –“Fauna of Kattampally” was published and ‘Student’s Wetland Congress 2020” was conducted at Alappuzha.
As part of the project “Special Assistance to Munroethuruthu Grama Panchayat”, Rs.74.8L was released to Munroethuruthu Grama Panchayat. Activities under the supervision of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Department are completed and funds have been disbursed.
The Ramsar Site Information Sheet (RSIS) of Sasthamkotta and Ashtamudi in Kollam District was successfully updated and uploaded in Ramsar website. The updating of RSIS of Vembanad-Kol, the largest Ramsar wetland is in progress.
Initiated Web Portal& Mobile App development for the implementation of the Integrated Management Action Plans (IMPs) of the 3 Ramsar wetlands of Kerala and the official website of the SWAK. Rs.57 lakh +GST + flood cess is sanctioned for the project.
Initiated project for the “Constitution of Catchment Conservation Committees, Preparation of Catchment Management Plan, Stake holder Consultation & Implementation of Vegetative measures for three Ramsar wetlands viz.,Vembanad-Kol, Sasthamkotta & Ashtamudi” with a total budget of Rs. 110.5 Lakh implemented through Soil Survey &Soil Conservation Department of Govt. of Kerala.
For the Ramsar Wetland monitoring and evaluation which include various activities like development of baseline database management system, research studies- trends in bathymetry, training on integrated wetland management, management zoning and planning, pollution abatement etc. initiated and its implementation is through Centre for Water Resource Development (CWRDM), Kozhikode The first year fund allocated is Rs. 77.5 Lakh.
As part of implementation of the Integrated Management Action Plan (MAP) of Ashtamudi Estuary, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Recertification of Yellow Clam initiated.

Achievements during 2019-20

Achievements of SWAK during 2018-19

The Ramsar Information Sheet of Sasthamkotta and Ashtamudi was successfully updated and uploaded in Ramsar website.
Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre (KSREC) has submitted initial list of wetlands (>2.25ha) for the notification of wetlands, The same was place before SWAK Technical committee. KSREC is expediting the final list of wetlands based on the suggestions from SWAK Technical committee.
Brief documents on wetlands namely (i) Kavvayi, (ii) Kattampally, (iii) Kadalundy, (iv) Kottuli, (v) Pookode (vi) Ponnani estuary/Purathur (vii) Chetuvai kayal, (viii) Paravur (ix) Vellayani was prepared by Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM).
Special Assistance to Munroethuruthu Grama Panchayat - Funding from the SWAK for five years as part of the Integrated Management Action Plan (MAP) prepared for Ashtamudi Kayal Ramsar Site: 75 lakhs was released as first year’s grant.
Two day workshop on “Environmental issues of Munroethuruthu Island and Sustainable solutions” was conducted in Kollam jointly organized by State Wetland Authority, Directorate of Environment and Climate change and Munroethuruth Panchayth on 18^th & 19^th February 2018.
The State Wetland Authority Kerala had invited proposals for awareness on wetland Conservation & Management on various topics under identified thrust areas with respect to Kerala 16 organisations was selected under Awareness on Wetland Conservation and Management scheme and Rs.41.38 lakhs was released for the same.
As part of the implementation of Management Action Plan (MAP) of 3 Ramsar wetlands-Ashtamudi lake, Sasthamkotta lake and Vembanad Kol wetlands (Funding pattern is 60% Central Share and 40% State Share). Sanction for the recruitment of staff exclusively for the implementation of MAP is still pending with government from 08.06.2018.
Based on the minutes of the CS with secretaries held on 09.11.2018 SWAK was directed to use the fund available under the core head for the removal of waste from the Ramsar sites through the Clean Kerala Company. The modified proposal of Clean Kerala company along with the budget was send to Environment department for the approval and re-appropriating the fund allocated for the implementation of MAPs for the same. Approval from the government is still pending.

SWAK

State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK)

Powers of State Wetlands Authority Kerala

Function of State Wetlands Authority Kerala

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