Lok Sabha Question No. 2311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-09
Subject: World Wetland Day
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2311

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2018

## World Wetland Day

## 2311. SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

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

- (a)     whether the World Wetland Day was organised in Gujarat recently;
- (b)      if so, the details thereof and the activities undertaken thereunder in the State;
- (c) the details of locations identified under RAMSAR convention in the State;
- (d) whether any steps have been taken to conserve and revive  wetlands in the State; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the success achieved therein?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b)   As per information provided by Government of Gujarat, World Wetlands Day (WWD) was celebrated on 02-02-2018 in Porbandar based on theme 'Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future' selected by the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands. The  programme  was  attended  by  300  participants including students, State Government officials and other stakeholders. Under the programme various activities were  organized,  which  included speeches  by  Experts  covering  importance  of wetlands, ecological services and Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and participants  were  also  given  hands  on  information  in  the  field  regarding identification of wetland birds, soil & water parameters and zooplankton & phytoplankton, etc while visiting Bird sanctuary.

As a part of World Wetlands Day celebrations, two days Wetland Workshop was  organized  on  'Plankton  and  Wetland  Invertebrates  -  A  Food  base  for  Water birds'  on  31-01-2018  and  01-02-2018  in  Porbandar,  which  was  attended  by  170 participants from Universities, Forest department, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs)  and  related  Government  departments.  World  Wetlands  Day  was  also celebrated at three identified wetlands namely Nalsarovar in Surendranagar district, Thol in Ahmedabad district and Wadhwana in Vadodara district, which was attended by students, NGOs and Eco clubs working in the field of wetland conservation.

(c) Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary in Ahmedabad and Surendranagar districts, having an area of 120.8 sq. km area, has been designated as Ramsar site in 2012 under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

(d) & (e) Ministry has identified 8 wetlands viz. Nalsarovar, Great Rann of Katchh, Thol  Bird  Sanctuary,  Khijadiya  Bird  Sanctuary,  Little  Rann  of  Katchh,  Pariej, Wadhwana and Nanikakrad from Gujarat for conservation and management under the scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA). Under the scheme of NPCA  financial assistance is provided to concerned State Government  on  cost  sharing  basis  for  undertaking  various  activities  covered  like interception, diversion and treatment of waste water, shore line protection, lake front development, de-silting, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification,  survey  &  demarcation,  bio-fencing,  fisheries  development,  weed control,  biodiversity  conservation,  education  and  awareness  creation,  community participation,  etc.  So  far,  an  amount  of  Rs.  7.37  crore  has  been  released  to Government of Gujarat for conservation and management of Nalsarovar, Thol Bird Sanctuary, Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Pariej, Wadhwana and Nanikakrad in Gujarat.

For  holistic  conservation  and  management  of  wetlands  in  Gujarat,  State Wetland Authority has been constituted under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of Forests.  All the 8 identified wetlands have been declared as Protected Areas and one  wetland  viz.  Chharidhund  as  Conservation  Reserve  by  the  State.  These wetlands  are  managed  as  per  the  prescriptions  of  management  plan.  Various activities  undertaken  for  conservation  and  management  of  these  wetlands  include periodical  removal  of  weed  and  scum,  establishing  small  islands  and  breeding ground,  construction of  mounds  for  birds, regulation of tourists, diversion of sewerage  and  effluent  etc.,  This  has  resulted  in  arresting  the  degradation  of wetlands to large extent and protection has given a boost in the revival of wetland and enhancement in birds population in State.

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