(1) The Central Government, hereby constitutes the National Wetlands Committee with the following members, namely:—
(i) Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India - Chairperson;
(ii) Special Secretary or Additional Secretary dealing with wetlands, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India-Vice Chairperson;
(iii) Additional Director General, Wildlife, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India - Member ex-officio;
(iv) Adviser or Joint Secretary dealing with wetlands, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change - Member ex-officio;
(v) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India- Member ex-officio;
(vi) Joint Secretary , Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India- Member ex-officio;
(vii) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India- Member exofficio;
(viii) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India- Member exofficio;
(ix) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India- Member ex-officio;
(x) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India- Member ex-officio;
(xi) The Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board - Member ex-officio;
(xii) Director, Zoological Survey of India or Scientist F- Member ex-officio;
(xiii) Director, Botanical Survey of India or Scientist F- Member ex-officio;
(xiv) Director, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad or Scientist F- Member ex-officio;
(xv) Member, Central Water Commission - Member ex-officio;
(xvi) Adviser, Niti Aayog - Member ex-officio;
(xvii) Three representatives of State Government or Union Territory Administration on a rotational basis for a tenure of two years each;
(xviii) One expert each in the fields of wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning & socioeconomics; and ¹Hkkx IIµ[k.M 3(i)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 13
(xix) Director/Additional Director/Joint Director dealing with wetlands, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change - Member Secretary.
(2) The National Wetlands Committee may co-opt other members, not exceeding three in number, if required.
(3) The National Wetlands Committee shall perform the following functions, namely:-
(a) advise the Central Government on appropriate policies and action programmes for conservation and wise use of wetlands;
(b) evolve norms and guidelines for integrated management of wetlands based on wise use principle;
(c) monitor implementation of these rules by the Authority;
(d) advise the Central Government on proposals received from State Governments or Union Territory Administrations for omission of the prohibited activities as referred in sub-rule (2) of rule 4;
(e) recommend designation of wetlands of international importance under Ramsar Convention;
(f) recommend trans-boundary wetlands for notification;
(g) review progress of integrated management of Ramsar sites and transboundary wetlands;
(h) advise on collaboration with international agencies on issues related to wetlands; and
(i) advise on any other matter suo-moto, or as referred by the Central Government.
(4) The tenure of non-official members of the Committee shall not exceed three years.
(5) The Committee shall meet at least once in every six months.