THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
OCTOBER 31, 2026
The Odisha government
is stepping up efforts to strengthen wetland conservation and management, with
the State Wetlands Authority deliberating on dedicated district-level
committees, faster clearance of wetland-related proposals and ecological
safeguards for major power projects.
The fifth meeting of
the State Wetlands Authority, Odisha, was held at Lok Seva Bhavan here on
Saturday under the chairmanship of Forest, Environment and Climate Change
Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia.
The Authority
discussed the constitution of dedicated District Wetland Committees under the
chairmanship of respective Collectors, with the concerned Divisional Forest
Officers (DFOs) serving as Member-Conveners, to strengthen conservation
initiatives and improve monitoring and management of wetlands at the grassroots
level.
The Minister urged
the department to expedite the processing of proposals relating to wetlands,
while ensuring that conservation priorities and environmental safeguards remain
central to the decision-making process.
The meeting also took
up several major energy infrastructure proposals, including Odisha Power
Generation Corporation's (OPGC) proposed 1,320 MW expansion of the IB Thermal
Power Station and GRIDCO's floating solar projects at Hirakud, with a proposed
capacity of approximately 3,500 MW, and Upper Indravati, involving 225 MW in
Phase-I.
OPGC's proposed 10 MW
floating solar project at the intake channel, along with a battery energy
storage system of 2 MW/8 MWh, was also considered by the Authority.
The deliberations
centred on balancing infrastructure development with the protection of
ecologically sensitive wetlands, with particular emphasis on environmental
safeguards and adherence to applicable statutory provisions.
The meeting was
attended by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department Principal
Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, PCCF and Head of Forest Force K. Murugesan, PCCF
(Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha, besides representatives of
various concerned departments and institutions.
Representatives of
the Chilika Development Authority (CDA), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB),
Odisha Biodiversity Board and Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC) also
participated in the meeting.
The discussions
underline the state's focus on strengthening institutional mechanisms for
wetland governance while ensuring that developmental activities are pursued in
accordance with ecological and environmental requirements.
