Lok Sabha Question No. 1272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Rejuvenation of Lakes
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1272

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## Rejuvenation of Lake

## 1272.  SHRI P.C MOHAN:

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

- (a) the details of programmes being implemented for lake rejuvenation works by the Government;
- (b) whether the Government has released any funds towards rejuvenation of any lakes in Bengaluru and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  directives  to  State  Governments  to cater  to  issues  pertaining  to  buffer  zones,  restoration  of  lakes,  encroachment clearance etc. in cities; and
- (d) 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 is currently implementing a scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) for conservation  and  management  of  identified  lakes  and  wetlands  in  the  country  on cost sharing basis between Central Government and respective State Governments/Union  Territories.  The  scheme  covers  various  activities  such  as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline protection, lake front development, in-situ cleaning i.e. de-silting & de-weeding, 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.
- (b)   Based on the proposals received from the State Government of Karnataka, this Ministry has sanctioned projects for conservation of five lakes in Bengaluru, namely Vengaiahkere,  Nagvara,  Jarganahalli,  Lal  Bagh  and  Bellandur  at  a  total  cost  of Rs.18.68  crores.  Central  share  of  ₹10.62  crore  has  already  been  released  to Government of Karnataka for conservation and management of these lakes. Work on all these five lakes has been completed.

As  per  Bengaluru  Water  Supply  and  Sewerage  Board  (BWSSB),  projects totalling  to  Rs.887.97  crore  relating  to  sewerage  system  and  STPs  in  Bengaluru have  been  approved/initiated  under  the  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban Transformation (AMRUT) programme of Ministry of Urban Development. Apart from other benefits, these projects will help in rejuvenating lakes in Bengaluru by reducing the pollution load being discharged into them.

(c) & (d)  The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions under Section  18(1)  (b)  of  the  Water  (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  in April,  2015 to all SPCBs/ PCCs, including Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), to make it mandatory for the urban local bodies (including Bengaluru) to set-up sewerage system and STPs of adequate capacity for abatement of pollution of  rivers  and  lakes.  Specific  directions  have  also  been  issued  to  KSPCB  in  May, 2015 for controlling the pollution in Bellandur and Varthur lakes of Bengaluru.

Further, 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.

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