Wetlands in Cuttack: A review of extent, ecosystem

benefits, threats and management for local Authority

INTRODUCTION:

Wetland defined as areas of land that is either temporarily or permanently covered by water and
exhibit enormous diversity according to their
genesis
geographical location
water regime and
chemistry

with freshwater, brackish or salt water.

Wetlands have also been described as ecotones, providing a transition between dry land and water
bodies.

The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favour the growth of specially adapted plants
and promote the development of characteristic wetland soils.
Wetlands support high concentration of aquatic species and serve as habitat for them.
The functions of a wetland and the values of these functions to humans depend on a complex set of
relationships between the wetland and the other ecosystems in the watershed. Many species of birds
and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water and shelter, especially during migration and
breeding.

Loktak Lake, Manipur Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary,

Tamil Nadu
Based on wetlands hydrological, ecological and geological characteristics wetlands classified into
five categories (Cowardin classification) :

1. Coastal : Coastal wetlands are the areas where sea water mixes with fresh water to form an
environment of varying salinities.

2. Estuarine : (including deltas, tidal marshes, and mangrove swamps.)

Chilka Lake Sea mouth , Odisha (Coastal) Mattole River estuary at the Pacific Ocean
(Estuarine)
3. Lacustarine (lakes):

4. Riverine (along rivers and streams):

5. Palustarine (marshy marshes, swamps and bogs):

In northwest Iowa (Riverine)

Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh (Lacustarine) Forested swamp in Osceola National Forest
(Palustarine)
According to Ramsar Convention:
areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with
water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of
which at low tide does not exceed six metres.

As per the Ramsar Convention definition:

Most of the natural water bodies (such as rivers, lakes,coastal lagoons, mangroves, peat land, coral
reefs) and man made wetlands (such as ponds, farm ponds, irrigated fields, sacred groves, salt pans,
reservoirs, gravel pits, sewage farms and canals) in India constitute the wetland ecosystem.

Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala Bhitarkanika, Odisha

 NEED OF THE STUDY:
Wetlands are vital for human survival. They are among the worlds most productive environments;
cradles of biological diversity that provide the water and productivity upon which countless species of
plants and animals depend for survival (Ramsar, 2014).

Wetlands play a number of roles in the environment principally:

1. Water purification
2. Food control
3. Carbon sink
4. Cultural significance
5. Shoreline stability

Wetlands improve water quality by trapping sediments, filtering out pollutants and absorbing nutrients
that would otherwise result in poor water quality for downstream users. They may also be linked to
groundwater resources.

Wetlands cover about 9% of the earths surface and are estimated to contain around 35% of global
terrestrial carbon. Wetlands act as sinks for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, especially if
their vegetation is protected and their natural processes are maintained.
 More than one-third of the threatened and endangered
species live only in wetlands, and nearly half use
wetlands at some point in their lives.
Many other animals and plants depend on wetlands for
survival.

Estuarine and marine fish and shellfish, various birds

and certain mammals must have coastal wetlands to
survive.

Most commercial and game fish breed and raise their

young in coastal marshes and estuaries.

Menhaden, flounder, sea trout, spot, croaker and

striped bass are among the more familiar fish that
depend on coastal wetlands.

Shrimp, oysters, clams, and blue and Dungeness crabs

likewise need these wetlands for food, shelter and
Wetland foodweb
breeding grounds.
 Wetlands function as natural sponges that
trap and slowly release surface water, rain,
snowmelt, groundwater and flood waters.
Trees, root mats and other wetland
vegetation also slow the speed of flood
waters and distributes them more slowly
over the floodplain.
This combined water storage an braking
action lowers flood heights and reduces
erosion. Wetlands are often associated with wetland work as a filter for surface runoff
prime agricultural land.
Our best crop production is often produced
in riparian area adjacent to river and lakes.
These areas once thriving, productive
wetlands have been drained and framed due
to their high organic matter content, high
nutrient availability and level and easily
cultivated land.
Ground water recharge by Wetland
With these environmental significance wetlands have
economical importance also.
We use a wealth of natural products from wetlands,
including:
Fish and shellfish
Blueberries
Cranberries
Timber and
Wild rice. Source : http://www.academicjournals.org

Commercial importance of wetland

Some medicines are derived from wetland soils and
plants. Many of the nation's fishing and shell fishing
industries harvest wetland-dependent species.

Wetlands are very important for recreation

perspective also. Many coastal and inland wetlands
are popular locations for tourism and recreational
activities such as swimming, boating, fishing,
camping and bird watching.
Commercial activity in Renuka Lake, Himachal Pradesh
 But due to anthropogenic and natural
reason they are getting extinct. Globally, the
areal extent of wetland ecosystems ranges
from 917 m ha (million hectares) to more
than 1275 m ha a year.

According to study conducted by SAC

(Space application centre) in India we have https://edwardhjones.files.wordpress.com
destroyed more than 50% wetlands of our
Net Acres of wetland lost or Gained (1950-2009)
country for agricultural and other use and
now we have approx 15.3 m ha wetlands.

Hundreds of thousands of hectares of

wetlands have been drained for agriculture.
Globally, agriculture accounts for 65% of the
total water withdrawal on Earth.

Wetland degradation
Few important causes for decline of wetlands: Natural reason:
Lack of awareness, Erosion
imprecise legislation, Subsidence
poor management structure, Sea Level Rise
unplanned development and Droughts
burgeoning population Hurricanes and Other Storms

Anthropogenic reason:
Drainage
Dredging and stream channelization
Deposition of fill material
Tilling for crop production
Logging
Mining Construction
Run-off
Air and water pollutants
Excess nutrients Toxic chemical release
Non-native species introduction Loss of Biodiversity
Grazing by domestic animals
Understanding that wetlands are important part of ecosystem and their presence acts as sinks in any
urban location, it is highly important that we consume and consider them in the urban
development process which establishes the need for the study.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES:

Aim of the project is to investigate the present condition of wetlands and establish relationship with the
urbanization in present scenario in terms of geographical, social and economical perspective and . The
ultimate aim will be achieved with the accomplishment of the following objective.

1. First objective is to study about wetlands with its surroundings and how wetlands are affecting
ecology of the region.
2. Second objective is to identify importance of wetlands for water purification, flood control, ground
water improvement and biodiversity.
3. Third objective is to explore social important of wetlands.
4. Fourth objective is to analyze economic derivatives of wetlands in urban space.
5. Fifth and last objective is to observe growing threats and its remedies for wetlands.
 PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Cuttack is the former capital and the second largest city in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. It is also
the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The total geographical area of Cuttack district is 3915 sq km
with about 4 per cent of area under wetlands ((ISRO), 2010).

Cuttack city which is business capital of Odisha and known as silver city itself is rich in wetland like
Trisula, Bayalis moza, Mahanadi vihar and Gadgadia apart from the rivers Mahanadi, Kathajodi and its
distributaries which runs through the city. It has canal, ponds, lake (Haragadia lake), tanks on the city
periphery.
 But now due to rapidly increasing population and
poor management of land, wetlands are in
pressure. Wetlands have been transforms in to
residential, commercial and institutional land use.
Need to identify anthropogenic and natural reason
for depletion of the wetlands in Cuttack and its
remedies to save identity of millennium city
image.

Owing to a range of pressures, the wetland area

has undergone at least 32% decline during 1975
and 2010.

The State Government of Odisha constituted the

State Wetland Development Authority in 2011 for
undertaking integrated management of the entire
wetlands of the state, including those of the
Mahanadi Delta. Wetland degradation
 Legal provision for Wetland:

Though there is no separate legal provision for wetland conservation in India, it is indirectly influenced
by number of other legal instruments.

1. Indian Fisheries Act 1857

2. Indian Forest Act 1927
3. Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
4. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974
5. Water Cess Act 1977,
6. Maritime Zone of India (Regulation and fishing by foreign vessels) Act 1980,
7. Forest (Conservation) Act 1980,
8. Environmental (Protection) Act 1986,
9. Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 1991, Biodiversity Act 2002, and Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 (MoEF
 National Policy on Wetland:

The policy support for wetland conservation in India was virtually non-existent. The action on wetland
management was primarily influenced by the international commitments made under Ramsar
Convention and indirectly through array of other policy measures, such as:

1. In 1985-86 National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP), 1985-86

2. Coastal Zone Regulation Notification, 1991
3. National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development, 1992
4. National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) was carved out of NWCP, 1993
5. National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), 1995
6. National Policy and Macro level Action Strategy on Biodiversity, 1999
7. National Environmental Policy 2006
8. National Water Policy, 2012
 National Policy on Wetland:

In 1985-86 National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) was launched in close

collaboration with concerned State Governments. Initially, only designated Ramsar Sites were
identified for conservation and management under the Programme .

In 1993, National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) was carved out of NWCP to focus on lakes
particularly those located in urban and peri-urban areas. Several measures were taken to arrest
further degradation and shrinkage of the identified water bodies due to encroachment, siltation, weed
infestation, catchment erosion, agricultural run-off carrying pesticides and fertilizers, and
wastewater discharge. which are subjected to anthropogenic pressures. Initially, only 10 lakes were
identified for conservation and management under the plan.

There is also a National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), operational since 1995, with an
objective to improve the water quality of the major Indian rivers through the implementation of
pollution abatement works, to the level of designated best use.
National Policy on Wetland:

Lately, the National Environmental Policy 2006 recognized the importance of wetlands in
providing numerous ecological services .

The policy, for the first time, accepted:

There is no formal system of wetland regulation in the country outside the international
commitments made in respect of Ramsar sites and thus there is a need of legally enforceable
regulatory mechanism for identified valuable wetlands, to prevent their degradation and enhance
their conservation

Further, the policy advocated, developing of National inventory of such wetlands.

A report by National Forest Commission (2006) among other suggestions also emphasized on:
framing of a National Wetland Conservation Act; and establishment of a National Wetland
Inventory and Monitoring Programme in order to develop a sustained and serious programme for
monitoring wetlands.
 National Policy on Wetland:

Based on the directives of National Environment Policy, 2006 and recommendations made by
National Forest Commission, Central Government notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Manage-
ment) Rules, 2010.

As per the provision under Rule 5 of the wetlands rules, Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority
(CWRA) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary, Environment and Forest.

The Expert Group on Wetlands (EGOW) has also been constituted for examining management
action plans of newly identified wetlands.

The rules put restrictions on the activities such as reclamation, setting up industries in vicinity, solid
waste dumping, manufacture or storage of hazardous substances, discharge of untreated effluents,
any permanent construction, etc. within the wetlands.

It also regulates activities (which will not be permitted without the consent of the State government)
such as hydraulic alterations, unsustainable grazing, harvesting of resources, releasing treated
effluents, aquaculture, agriculture and dredging.
 National Policy on Wetland:

The new draft National Water Policy, 2012 which is cleared recently by the National Water
Resources Council also recognizes the need for conservation of river corridors and water bodies
(including wetlands) in a scientifically planned manner.

Further, the policy emphasizes that the environmental needs of aquatic eco-system, wetlands and
embanked flood plains should be recognized and taken into consideration while planning for
water resources conservation.
 National Policy on Wetland:

Over the years:

Number of designated Ramsar Sites has increased to 26 (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 2012).
Number of rivers under NRCP (National river Conservation Plan) has increased to 39.
Number of wetlands covered by the NWCP (National wetland conservation programme) and NLCP
(National lake conservation plan) has increased to 115 and 61 respectively.

However these initiatives proved to be too little considering the extent of ecologically sensitive wetland
ecosystems in the country and the fact that only a selected few wetlands were taken up for conservation
and management purpose.
 National Policy on Wetland:

However, only selected wetlands based on the significance of the functions performed by them for
overall well-being of the people are being regulated under these rules.

These include:
(1) wetlands selected under Ramsar Convention;
(2) wetlands in ecologically sensitive and important areas;
(3) wet- lands recognized as UNESCO World Heritage site;
(4) High altitude wetlands (at or above an elevation of 2500 m with an area equal to or greater than five
hectares);
(5) wetland complexes below an elevation of 2500 m with an area equal to or greater than 500 ha; and
(6) any other wetland identified by the Authority (Wetlands Rules, 2010).
National Policy on Wetland:

In an answer to a question raised in Rajya Sabha on conservation of wetlands on 25 July 2016, the
government repied:

As per National Wetland Atlas published by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad in
2011, there are a total of 7,57,060 wetlands in the country occupying 15.26 million hectare area
(around 4.63% of the geographic area of the country). These include lakes/ponds, ox-bow lakes, high
altitude & riverine wetlands, waterlogged areas, rivers/streams, tanks, reservoirs, lagoons, creeks, sand
beaches, corals, mangroves, mud flats, salt pans, aquaculture ponds, etc. Out of the total 757,060
wetlands, 555,557 wetlands have an area less than 2.25 hectare.
National Wet land Atlas, Space application centre, ISRO:
State-wise number of wetlands in India
National Wet land Atlas, Space application centre, ISRO:

Area estimates of wetlands in Cuttack district :

National Wet land Atlas, Space application centre, ISRO:
State Policy on Wetland:

On 2nd feb 2015 on the day of world wetland day Odisha CM said:

Wetlands are indispensable for the host of ecosystem services that they provide to humanity. For
effective management of the wetlands, good governance and policy support is essential. I am happy
to mention that Orissa is the first state in the country to constitute Orissa Wetland Development
Authority for conservation and sustainable management of the wetlands of the state.

Comprehensive management plans for 17 important wetlands of the state are under preparation.
The services of Wetlands International are commissioned by the Odisha Wetland Development
Authority (OWDA) for formulation of comprehensive management plans of important wetlands of
the state."
National Wet land Atlas, Space application centre, ISRO:
 State Policy on Wetland:

Despite the recent national legislation and state authority on wetland regulation, a majority of the
wetlands continue to be ignored in the policy process.

However, it should be noted that the latest National Wetland Atlas, which is prepared by SAC (Space
Application Centre) , ISRO with support from Ministry of Environment and Forest, does include
tanks in the wetland database. Hence, there seems to be a disagreement among the national agencies
on the kind of water bodies that can be considered as a wetland.

Some scholars have emphasized that the rules do not recognize the traditional rights over the
wetlands for livelihoods even as they seeks to regulate such activities. Such regulation can in effect
become prohibitive for livelihood activities.

Also, the rules limit the involvement of community and local stakeholder groups in the management
of the wetlands. This goes against the recommendation 6.3 of Ramsar Convention (relating to
encouraging active and informed participation of local and indigenous people at Ramsar listed
sites and other wetlands and their catchments), made during the Sixth Conference of Parties in 1996.
National Policy on Wetland:
National Policy on Wetland:

So we can say that only a small fraction of total wetlands have been taken up for conservation and
growing threat to their ecosystem.

It is essential that other ecologically important wetlands be identified and protected.

Further, it is important to regulate large scale land use changes in the catchment area of wetlands
and also prevent them from getting polluted in order to maintain their hydrological and ecological
integrity.

For achieving the second objective, an effective and proper water quality monitoring plan needs to
be devised.
National Policy on Wetland:

Lack of regulations and management, especially of wetlands below 2500 m, totally neglects the
management and conservation of some of the crucial smaller wetlands in urban and rural
areas which perform important socio-ecological functions and are under severe threat by
land-filling and reclamation.

(source: Status of wetlands in India: A review of extent, ecosystem benefits, threats and management strategies)
Involvement of local government in protection of Wetland:

Local Government Wetland Protection Programs:

According to Our National Heritage, A protection guide book. Environment law Institute, Washington,
D.C. by Kusler J. and T. Opheim.

A local government can benefit from a wetland protection and restoration program
in many ways. Such programs can:
Reduce water quality problems,
Help protect municipal water supplies,
Reduce storm water water quality and quantity problems,
Reduce flood, erosion, earthquake losses (liquefaction)
Provide outdoor recreation opportunities for bird watching, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing,
Provide research and educational opportunities for local schools, and
Help allocate lands throughout the community to their most suitable uses.
Involvement of local government in protection of Wetland:

Communities involvement for protecting and restoring wetlands:

Mapping wetlands for public information and education, planning, regulatory, and othe
purposes,
Incorporating wetland maps and policies into comprehensive and master planning programs for
lands and waters, and watersheds,
Protecting and restoring wetlands on local government lands such as parks, greenways, and
forest areas,
Adopting wetland protection regulations for private lands (zoning, subdivision control, building
codes, other regulations),
Adopting local real estate tax incentives for wetlands,
Acquiring fee or conservation easement interests in selected wetlands,
Constructing boardwalks and other interpretative facilitates in wetlands, and
Restoring and constructing wetlands for pollution control, storm water, parks, recreation,
tourism and other purposes.
Involvement of local government in protection of Wetland:

How do local wetland regulations differ from state and central regulations?

Local regulations differ in a number of ways:

Central and state wetland regulations typically pertain only to selected wetlands or to wetlands
and waters. Many local regulations are adopted to serve broad, multi objective land and water
management goals and are part of a larger, comprehensive planning and land management
programs which apply communitywide.
They are often part of larger efforts to protect conservancy areas, critical areas, sensitive
areas, and open space which also apply to steep slopes, prime agricultural lands, hazard areas
and other priority open spaces,
Local regulations typically involve adoption of wetland maps as well as written regulations. Some
state regulations also involve prior mapping. The Corps regulations and many state regulations
do not include mapping.
Local regulations are often more restrictive in nature than state or central regulations and only
allow open space uses unless a variance or special exception is issued.
Involvement of local government in protection of Wetland:

In India also there are examples of success of community and civil society organisations like
Tarun Bharat Sangh along with local community helped build and rejuvenate thousands of
ponds and other water conservation structures in Rajasthan.

In case of very large wetlands, there can be stand alone authority with an important role for
people and local organisations like Chilika Development Authorirty .
Proposed land use for Cuttack development Plan Area 2030:
Percentage share of land use in Cuttack development Plan area :
Percentage share of land use in Cuttack development Plan area :

In CDPA report also which is the blue print of vision-2030, Perspective plan for Cuttack didnt
mention about conservation and restoration of wetland. It only explains about sources of
water supply and its management.

So, strongly we can say we need a local policy in local government level which can take care of
wetland which are not in the list of national and state importance but locally they are very
important in terms of socio-economic and culture.
 Mahanadi River

Cuttack

Kathjodi River

Cuttack surrounded by Mahanadi and Kathjodi River

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS:

1. Scope of work is limited to study of wetlands in qualitative aspect and effect in terms of
Ecological
Social
Economical
2. Details of aquatic species and quantity of water will be the limitation of project.
REFERENCES:

1. (ISRO), S. A. (2010). Narional wetland atlas: Orissa. Ahmedabad: Space Applications Centre (ISRO).
2. Bassi, N., Kumar, M. D., Sharma, A., & Saradhi, P. P. (2014, August 13). Status of wetlands in India: A review of extent, ecosystem
benefits. threats and management strategies. Retrieved August 29, 2017, from ELSEVIER: www.elsevier.com/locate/ejrh
3. CES. (n.d.). Indian Institute of Science. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from CES: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/TR86/intro.html
4. Council, W. R. (n.d.). Threats to wetlands. Retrieved september 11, 2017, from Waikato Regional Council website:
https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/environment/natural-resources/water/freshwater-wetlands/threats-to-wetlands/
5. EPA. (2017, February 27). Wetlands. Retrieved september 09, 2017, from United States Environmental Protection Agency website:
https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/what-wetland
6. Gale, K. R. (1994). Wetland processes and water quality: A Symposium Overview. Journal of Environmental quality , 875-877.
7. Goverment, N. (2013, march 18). Why are wetlands important. Retrieved september 11, 2017, from Office of Environmental and
Heritage Website: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wetlands/WhyAreWetlandsImportant.htm
8. Patnaik, R. K. (2016). Wetlands of Mahanadi Delta (India). Springer , 1-9.
9. Ramsar. (2014). The impotance of wetland. Retrieved september 11, 2017, from Ramsar Website: http://www.ramsar.org/about/the-
importance-of-wetlands
10. WWF. (n.d.). World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from WWF Website: https://www.worldwildlife.org/habitats/wetlands