Lok Sabha Question No. 1302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Encroachment of Natural Lakes
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Pratima Mondal, Sougata Ray

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1302

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## Encroachment of Natural Lakes

## 1302. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL: PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

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

- (a)   whether it has come to the notice of the Government that large number of natural lakes in the country are on the verge of dying;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c)   the steps taken to avoid encroachments and to ensure a 10-meter buffer zone to avoid any type of destruction of the same;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that the waste from newly constructed flats/houses/buildings are discharged to such natural lakes; and
- (e)   if so, the steps taken to prevent such types of pollution in natural lakes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e) While the Central and State Governments take all possible steps for the preservation, conservation  and  restoration  of  wetlands  (includes  lakes),  developmental  activities  and anthropogenic pressures do affect wetlands.

Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  has  notified  the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These rules, inter-alia, prohibit conversion for non-wetland uses including encroachment of any kind, solid waste dumping, discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages and other human settlements and any construction of a permanent nature except for boat jetties within fifty metres from the mean high flood level observed in the past ten years calculated from the date of commencement of these rules. Further, vide these rules, the State/UT Wetlands Authorities have been constituted which are responsible for protection and conservation of wetlands.

MoEF&CC is currently implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands  in  the  country  on  cost  sharing  basis  between  Central  Government  and  respective State/UT Governments. The scheme covers various activities such as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater.

It is the responsibility of the States/UTs and local bodies to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents to the prescribed norms before discharging into wetlands  to prevent and control of pollution therein. Further, the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, provide the statutory framework for management of solid waste in the country. As per these Rules, the local authorities and village panchayats are responsible for solid waste management. Further, every waste generator shall segregate and store the waste generated by them in three separate streams namely, bio-degradable, non-biodegradable and domestic hazardous wastes in suitable bins and handover segregated wastes to authorised waste pickers or waste collectors as per  the  direction  or  notification  by  the  local  authorities  from  time  to  time.  The  rules  also mandate that no waste generator shall throw, burn or burry the solid waste generated by him, on streets, open public spaces outside his premises or in the drain or water bodies.

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