Lok Sabha Question No. 1164 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-09
Subject: National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, Shrirang Appa Barne, ANANDRAO  ADSUL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1164

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2018

## National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems

1164. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the    National  Plan  for  Conservation  of  Aquatic  Ecosystems (NPCAEs)  was  launched  by  the  Union  Government  in  2013  to  support  States  in integrated management of these ecosystems and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  aforesaid  scheme  is  being  implemented  in  all  States  with some changes and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the tenure of the Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA)a nodal agency  to coordinate with multiple stakeholders in the country for conservation  and  sustainable  management  of  wetlands  has  expired  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Union Government has so far not notified all wetlands under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the names of the States who have not constitute State Wetland Authorities and corrective measures taken by the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) & (b)   The Ministry had been implementing two separate programmes, namely National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) and National Lake Conservation Plan  (NLCP) for conservation  and management of identified lakes and wetlands in the country. To have better synergy and avoid overlap, both the programmes have been  merged  in  February,  2013  into  an  integrated  scheme  of  National  Plan  for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA). The various activities covered under the  scheme include interception, diversion  and  treatment of waste water, shoreline protection, lake front development, de-silting, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey & demarcation, biofencing, fisheries development,  weed  control,  biodiversity  conservation,  education  and  awareness creation, community participation, etc.

So  far,  an  amount  of  Rs.  168.30  crores  has  been  released  to  the  States  and other organizations for conservation and management of 82 wetlands in the country. Similarly, an amount of Rs. 719.627 crores has been released for 64 lakes and work on 36 lakes has been completed.

(c)  to  (e)    For  more  effective  conservation  and  management  of  wetlands  in  the country, the Central Government, in consultation with the States, Union Territories, Central line Ministries and other stakeholders, have notified the Wetlands (Conservation & Management)  Rules, 2017 on 26.09.2017 superseding the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010. Vide these 2017 rules, the State/Union Territories (UT) Wetland Authorities have been constituted (in place of Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority) and powers for notification of wetlands have been delegated to the State Governments and UT Administrations.

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