Lok Sabha Question No. 2929 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Preservation of Wetland
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2929

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Preservation of Wetland

## 2929. SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has notified Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 with the aim of prohibiting activities in wetlands across the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the number of wetlands identified  by the Government, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has also provided financial incentives to States to preserve wetlands; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to restore the past wetlands so as to maintain healthy biodiversity?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  For  more  effective  conservation  and  management  of  wetlands  in  the country,  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  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.

The  2017  Rules  are  applicable  to  wetlands  categorised  as  'wetlands  of international importance' under the Ramsar Convention and wetlands as notified by the  Central  Government,  State  Government  and  Union  Territory  Administration. These Rules shall not apply to the wetlands falling in areas covered under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the State Forest Acts, and the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011 as amended  from  time  to  time.  Under  Rule  4,  the  prohibited  activities  within  the wetlands have been laid down. Vide these Rules, the  State/Union  Territories  (UT) Wetland  Authorities  have  been  constituted  and  powers  for  notification  of  wetlands have been delegated to the State Governments and UT Administrations.

(c) & (d) MoEF&CC is currently implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) for conservation and management  of  identified  wetlands  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.

The  central  assistance  is  based  on  the  proposals  received  from  the  State Governments, conformity with the guidelines and budget availability. Accordingly, so far, MoEF&CC has sanctioned projects for conservation of 150 wetlands in 15 States &  1  UT  in  the  country  and  released  an  amount  of  Rs.  936  crore  as  central  share under the scheme.

Further,  works  related  to  water  resources  development  &  management  are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments,  Government  of  India  (through  Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes such as Accelerated lrrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and scheme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies etc.

The RRR of water bodies scheme has multiple objectives like comprehensive improvement  and  restoration  of  water  bodies  thereby  increasing  the  tank  storage capacity, ground water recharge, increased availability of drinking water, improvement of catchment of tank commands etc.

Under the  RRR  of  water  bodies  scheme,  there  are  1964  water  bodies  with estimated cost of Rs. 1,697.63 crore. Out of these, 664 water bodies were completed upto  March,  2018,  as  reported  by  States.  Total  Central  Assistance  (CA)  released upto March, 2018 is Rs. 344.315 crore. In the current financial year, Rs. 22.095 crore has been released as CA under this scheme to 3 states so far. CA released under the scheme depends upon the proposals received from the state governments and availability of the budget at the centre level.

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