Thiruvananthapuram 02-02-2012: A State Wetland Development Institute will soon be set up in the state, said CM. He was inaugurating the national celebrations of World Wetland Day here.

This institute is first of its kind in the state and is aime d to protect and study the wetlands in the state. The headquarters of the institute will be at Kottyam and will have branches in four major wetland areas of our state- Vembanad, Astamudi, Sasthamkotta and Kadalundi.

CM said that Wetland conservation would be given top priority ensuring the area free from pollution too and added that the rivers that flow into the wetlands would also be conserved and protected.

MoEF Additional Secretary Meera Mehrishi, KSCSTE executive vice-president V N Rajasekharan Pillai, CESS Directir NP Kurian, K Muraledharan MLA were also present.