Imphal: Chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, the sixth meeting of the Manipur State Wetlands Authority (MSWA) reviewed and approved five major agenda items focused on wetland conservation and legal protection across the state.
The first agenda item concerned confirmation of the proceedings of the fifth meeting and the reconstitution of MSWA committees. The second involved reviewing the notification status of seven recommended state priority wetlands, along with recommendations for physical demarcation and notification of the remaining water bodies.
The third agenda item reviewed the status of brief documents and health cards being prepared for 71 ground-truthed wetlands. The fourth concerned updates on Integrated Management Plans (IMPs) for wetlands and proposals for new Ramsar sites.
The fifth agenda item involved a review of Supreme Court proceedings regarding Writ Petition (Civil) No. 304 of 2018 concerning wetlands.
Director of the Environment and Climate Change Department and Member Secretary of MSWA T. Brajakumar Singh provided an update on the state’s progress in wetland conservation.
He said 132 wetlands had been ground-truthed, 71 digitally delineated and seven physically demarcated. Three wetlands have received official notification, while Loktak Lake retains its status as Ramsar Site No. 463, designated in 1990.
Two volumes of Wetlands of Manipur (Versions 1.0 and 1.1) were published in 2025, while construction has begun on a new Cultural and Wetland Museum.
Public progress reports and tracking metrics are available through the Manipur Wetlands App.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, scientific experts and institutional representatives, including Principal Secretary of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Arun Kumar Sinha; CCF (Wildlife) Joykumar Singh; Special Secretary R.K. Amarjit Singh; Commissioner of Fisheries Robert Singh Kshetrimayum; Secretary of Water Resources W. Malemnganba Chenglei; and Secretary of Tourism Rangitabali Waikhom.
Additional Secretary of MAHUD Regina Hongray, Project Director of LDA H. Balkrishna Singh, Director of MARSAC O. Nodiachand Singh and Executive Engineer of RD&PR Ch. Sadananda Meitei also attended the meeting.
Academic and technical experts who attended the meeting included Ng. Romeji of NIT Manipur; K. Khelchandra Singh, M. Lilee Devi, Y. Rameshori and Kh. Pradipkumar Singh of Manipur University; and Ritesh Kumar, Director of Wetlands International South Asia.