(IN) A guide to water body

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*A guide to water body*

 

Definition of water body

 

*The West Bengal Inland Fisheries Act, 1984, says retention of water for a

period minimum of six months will qualify any area as wetland/ water body. *

 

Benefits of water body

 

*Helps in natural drainage.*

 

*Acts as reservoir for fire-fighting, recharges ground water and maintains

ecological balance.*

 

*Ensures livelihood.*

 

Laws to protect filling up of water bodies

 

*The West Bengal Inland Fisheries Act, 1984 (amended in 1993), bars filling

up of any water body — measuring five cottahs or more — where water is

retained for minimum six months.*

 

*The West Bengal Town and Country (Planning and Development), Act, 1979, —to

be enforced by the CMC — says permission for filling of a tank, pond or

water body will not be given because of environmental and ecological

reasons. Use of water body for pisciculture and its utility in facilitating

drainage are some of the other reasons cited in the act. *

 

*Section 24 of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and

4D of the West Bengal Land & Land Reforms Act, 1956, can be applied to stop

filling up of water bodies.*

 

Agencies responsible for enforcement of law:

 

*CMC and the pollution control board in the city. *

 

Water body statistics

 

*According to a CMC survey in 2000, the water body count was around 3,000.

But the list is neither accurate nor exhaustive. Experts involved in a

Central Pollution Control Board study in 2002-03 feel the present number is

around 2,500.*

 

 

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