Bhoj wetland

AboutBhoj wetland:

• It consists of two contiguous human-made reservoirs, the upper and lower lakes located in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• The Upper lake is called Bhojtal (Bada Talaab) and Lower Lake is known as Chhota Talaab.  
• The lakes are very rich in biodiversity, particularly for macrophytes, phytoplankton and zooplankton.
• It has more than 15 kinds of fishes and several vulnerable speciesincluding turtles, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates.
• It is designated as the Ramsar site in 2002.

Key facts about the National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• The National Green Tribunal has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
• New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal, and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.
• NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same.
• Composition
  • It comprises the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and the Expert Members.
  • They shall hold office for a term of 5 years and are not eligible for reappointment.
  • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
  • A Selection Committee shall be formed by the central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.
  • There are to be at least 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.

What is Ramsar Convention?

• This convention was signed on 2nd February, 1971 to preserve the ecological character of their wetlands of international importance.
• It is named after Ramsar, the Iranian city where the treaty was signed in 1971, and places chosen for conservation under it are given the tag ‘Ramsar site’.

Q1) What are macrophytes?

Macrophytes are aquatic plants that grow in or near bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands. These plants are typically visible to the naked eye and can have a significant impact on the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. Macrophytes play important ecological roles and provide various benefits to aquatic environments.

Source: NGT tells M.P. govt. to stop motorised boats, cruise in wetlands