The East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) comprise a large number of water bodies located in the districts of 24 Parganas North & South and adjacent to the eastern part of Kolkata bordering the Salt Lake township on the one hand and the upcoming new township at Rajarhat on the other. The multifunctional wetland ecosystem consists of an area of 12,500 hectares. It comprises 254 sewage fed fisheries, small agricultural plots and solid waste farms. Besides, there are some built up areas also. The EKW nurtures the world’s largest wastewater fed aqua culture system. The goods and services provided by this wetland include, in addition to fisheries, a very cheap, efficient and eco-friendly system of solid waste and sewer treatment system for the city of Kolkata, habitat for waterfowl and home for a large flora and fauna. However, because of increasing pressure of urbanization, change in the quality and quantity of the solid waste and sewer, as also human neglect, this site, presently a Ramsar site, is under threat from various directions. To stop further deterioration of the system as also to protect and develop its original character, the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority, Department of Environment, Govt. of West Bengal has prepared a comprehensive and integrated Management Plan in keeping with basic guidelines of the Ramsar Protocol, and started implementing it.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 10:10:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015