By Our Correspondent in Bhubaneswar, February 2, 2015 :

Odisha government is working on a comprehensive management plan for 17 important wetlands of the state in consultation with Wetlands International – a global body that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity.

Incidentally, Odisha is the first state in the country to constitute “Odisha Wetland Development Authority” for conservation and sustainable management of the wetlands of the state.

Bhittarkanika wetland in Odisha

“Wetlands are indispensable for the host of ecosystem services that they provide to humanity, ranging from fresh water supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, ground water recharge and climate change mitigation”, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said here at a meeting held  on the occasion of World Wetland Day

Endowed with very rich and diverse wetlands, the shrinking Chilika lake has been successfully restored which the chief minister described as “a perfect example of how the restoration of a wetland with most appropriate strategy can not only restore the ecosystem of the wetland, but also, can contribute significantly towards the improvement of livelihood of local communities due to increase in the productivity”.

Patnaik attributed the success to strategic planning, good governance and most importantly policy support from the state government.

“It is heartening to learn that other states are emulating the model of Odisha for restoration and management of wetlands”, he remarked.

The chief minister also released the Chilika Newsletter 2015- a compilation of scientific, technical and social aspects of Chilika and its management and governance by the Chilika Development Authority [CDA] in collaboration with New Delhi based “Wetlands International South Asia”, New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change has announced to soon recognise the state-of-the-art Wetland Research and Training Centre, established by CDA as a centre of excellence.

“It [CDA] is emerging as an excellent platform for the wetland scientists, researchers to carry out research on the wetland ecosystem and also for the capacity building of the wetland managers from India and abroad”, Patnaik remarked.

A drawing and painting competitions was conducted among the students in the schools in and around Chilika on the theme “Wetlands for our future” to generate interest and garner support from young minds on wetland conservation and awareness.