12th World Lake conference concludes with Jaipur Declaration

Jaipur, Nov 2: The 12th World Lake Conference--Taal-2007- concluded here today with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration aiming at the restoration and management of Lakes and Wetlands through Twinning arrangment--with international support.

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena, Chinese Vice Minister Environment Proection Wang Yuqing,ILEC Director General Hamanaka, Rajasthan's Environment Minister Laxmi Narain Dave and several dignitaries were present at the valedictory session of the five-day conclave.

President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil inaugurated the conference at the BM Birla Auditorium here on October 29. About 500 partcipants from over 40 countries, including China, Japan, Holland participated in the biennial mega event which was held in the South Asian region for the first time.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Meena hailed adoption of Jaipur Declaration which had duly acknowledged the importance of protection, conservation and wise use of lakes and wetlands. Mr Meena assured the delegates of prompt action by the Central Government for due implementation of the Jaipur Declaration and urged the governments of all the participant countries to make sincere efforts for implementation of the recommendations.

He also stressed the need of ensuring stakeholders participation in lake restoration and conservation and special mesures for generating public awareness for the cause.

Urging the states for paying due attention to lake and wetland conservation and restoration programmes, Mr Meena recalled that in a bid to ensure due adminsitrative supervision and control the Centre had asked all the state governments to set up state lake and wetland conservation authority under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.

He said some of the states had already set up these bodies while others were in the process for setting up the same.

In his concluding note Rajasthan Environment and Forests Minister Dave assured that his government would make serious effortsts for conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands.

Mr Dave said being a desert state Rajasthan did understand well the importance of this mission and moreover people of the state nurture in their lives, the time tested tradition and skills to protect the water bodies.

UNI