Lok Sabha Question No. 1302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1302

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## Climate Change

## 1302. PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

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

- (a) whether the  Government has taken steps to tackle the  climate  change  and  the  high temperature;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to promote afforestation in empty lands of the country;
- (c) the steps taken for preserving the wetlands of various parts of the country;
- (d) whether the Hon'ble Supreme Court has issued orders to demolish a large number of building structures within the protected zones in various parts of the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) In  order  to  tackle  the  problem  of  climate  change  and  the  high  temperature  in  the country,  the  Government  is  implementing  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change (NAPCC) which comprises of missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water,  agriculture,  Himalayan  eco-system,  sustainable  habitat,  green  India  and  strategic knowledge on climate change. Climate actions at the state level are based on the State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC). Thirty-three States/Union Territories have prepared their State  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (SAPCC)  in  lines  with  NAPCC  taking  into  account State's  specific  issues  relating  to  climate  change.  These  SAPCCs  inter-alia  outline  sector specific and cross sectoral priority climate actions.

The Government is also implementing the scheme, 'National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change' (NAFCC) to support adaptation measures of States/UTs in areas that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate Change.  Under NAFCC, 30 projects have been sanctioned in 27 States to tackle the issues related to adaptation in agriculture, water, forestry, etc. Government of India has also embarked upon ambitious actions in the areas of renewable energy, afforestation, energy efficiency, and urban development.

National Mission for a Green India (GIM) under the National Action Plan on Climate Change aims at  protecting,  restoring  and  enhancing  India's  forest  cover  and  responding  to  climate change. It envisages a holistic view of greening and focuses on multiple ecosystem services along with carbon sequestration and emission reduction as co-benefits. GIM emphasises the landscape approach to treat large contiguous areas of both forest and non-forest, public and private lands.

National  Forest  Policy  (NFP)  1988  encourages  massive  afforestation  and  social  forestry programme on all denuded, degraded and unproductive lands. NFP 1988 also encourages for planting of trees alongside of roads, railway lines, rivers and streams and canals, and on other unutilized  lands  along  with  raising  of green  belts  in  urban/  industrial  areas.National Afforestation Programme (NAP) is the major afforestation programme implemented by the government for  regeneration  of  degraded  forests  and  adjoining  areas  through  participatory approach.The concerned State Forest Departmentsare taking up plantation activity on railway land in States like Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, etc.

(c) The government is currently implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namelyNational Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands (including lakes) in the country on cost sharing basis between Central Government and respective State Governments. Under NPCA scheme, 180 wetlands including lakes in the country have been prioritized/identified for conservation & management. Financial assistance amounting to Rs. 963.88 crores have been released for 50 wetlands including lakes so far.

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.

(d)  &  (e) No such order has been issued by the Honourable Supreme Court to demolish a large number of building structures within the protected areas in various parts of the country.

***