Lok Sabha Question No. 4343 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Conservation of Ponds and Lakes
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Arun Sao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4343

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2019

## Conservation of Ponds and Lakes

†4343.  SHRI ARUN SAO:

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

(a) whether the Government has taken effective steps for conservation of ponds and lakes in the country, and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Government proposes to bring a law in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether  the  Government  has  given  directions  to  the  State  Governments  to  take stringent  action  for  conservation  of  ponds  and  lakes  including  constructing  boundary  wall around them; and

- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  is  currently implementing  a  scheme  namely,  National  Plan  for  Conservation  of  Aquatic  Eco-systems (NPCA) for conservation and management of identified wetlands and lakes in the country on cost  sharing  basis  between  Central  Government  and  respective  State  Governments.  The scheme covers various activities such as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline  protection,  lake  front  development,  in-situ  cleaning  i.e.  desilting  &  deweeding, storm  water  management,  bioremediation,  catchment  area  treatment,  lake  beautification, survey &  demarcation, biofencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation, etc.

Further,  the  renovation  of  traditional  and  other  water  bodies  /tanks  is  one  of  the intervention areas of Jal Shakti Abhiyan. The objectives of Jal Shakti Abhiyan inter alia aim at  increased  surface  and  ground  water  availability,  sustainability  of  drinking  water  sources increase  soil  moisture  etc.  Inventorization,  restoration    and  rejuvenation  efforts  for  water bodies that have existed since more than ten years and which have served the community for drinking water and other purposes has been undertaken.

(b)  & (c)  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  superseding  the  Wetlands  (Conservation  and  Management)  Rules,  2010.  As  per  the

Wetlands  Rules-2017,  certain  activities  are  prohibited  under  the  provision  4(2),  which  are applicable  to  wetlands  notified  by  the  Central  Government,  State  Government  and  Union Territory Administration and to wetlands categorized as 'wetlands of international importance' under the Ramsar Convention. Under the Wetlands Rules, powers have been delegated to the State Wetlands Authorities for identification and notification of the respective wetlands.

(d) & (e)   In order to conserve wetlands and lakes in an integrated manner, all the States/ Union  Territories have been advised for giving high priority for identification and notification of wetlands including delineation of their boundaries, development of integrated management plans, securing resources for implementation of management plans, monitoring and evaluation,  strengthening research-management interface, etc.

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