Bhubaneswar, October 31: The State Wetlands Authority on Friday reviewed various measures, including the formation of dedicated District Wetland Committees under the chairmanship of District Collectors to strengthen wetland conservation, management and ecological protection at its fifth meeting held at Lok Seva Bhavan here.

The meeting was chaired by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia and attended by department Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, PCCF and HoFF Dr. K. Murugesan, PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha, along with representatives of various government departments and associated organisations.

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The proposed district-level committees will have the respective Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) as Member-Conveners. The move is aimed at strengthening coordination and ensuring effective implementation of wetland conservation measures at the grassroots level.

The meeting also examined several major infrastructure and renewable energy proposals with potential implications for wetland areas. These included OPGC's proposed 1,320 MW expansion of the IB Thermal Power Station, GRIDCO's floating solar projects at Hirakud, with an estimated capacity of 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 2 MW/8 MWh battery energy storage system, was also considered.