Lok Sabha Question No. 579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-20
Subject: Marine Varieties in Rivers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DUSHYANT SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 579

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2018

## Marine Varieties in Rivers

## 579. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has data of the drop in the availability of marine varieties in rivers across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; river-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken steps to preserve the variety of marine life in rivers across the country; and
- (d) if so, the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  & (b) Marine species are generally not found in rivers but in estuaries, which are semi-enclosed water bodies where fresh water from coastal streams and rivers mixes with sea water. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has carried out various studies  to  assess  the  faunal  diversity  of  estuarine  ecosystems  in  the  states  of Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Besides, ZSI has recently brought out a publication on 'Current Status of Estuarine Biodiversity of India' which covers  the  existing  status  of  all  estuarine  fauna  from  phytoplankton,  mangroves, protozoans to mammals. The publication  depicts the faunal diversity  of  20 major estuaries on the eastern and western coasts of India and also highlights the threats as  well  as  conservation  of  estuarine  fauna  viz.  Irrawady  and  Gangetic  dolphins, shore and aquatic as well as migratory birds, Olive Ridley and Batagur turtles, and estuarine  crocodiles.  However,  data  on  drop  in  the  availability  of  marine  species across the country, river/estuary -wise has not been analysed by ZSI.

(c) & (d) Under the provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  and  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972, various steps taken by the Government to preserve marine life in estuaries include notification  of  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  and  the  Island  Protection  Zone,  2011  for preservation of coastal ecology, livelihoods of folk communities and  promotion of economic  activity  that  have  necessarily  to  be  located  in  the  coastal  regions; constitution of National and State Coastal Zone Management Authorities; notification of Eco-sensitive zones/ Areas for protection of wildlife, including marine life,  at  and  near  estuaries;  directions  by  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  to  State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in coastal States  for  treatment  of  untreated  sewage  and  industrial  effluents  from  coastal towns;  consent  management  for  compliance  of  effluent  standards  by  industries enforced  by  SPCBs/PCCs  to  improve  the  water  quality  of  rivers, including estuaries, etc.

In addition, to regulate coastal aquaculture activities for sustainable development without causing damage  to environment, Coastal Aquaculture Authority has been established under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005.

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