Lok Sabha Question No. 37 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-02
Subject: Restoration of Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 37

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2023

## RESTORATION OF RIVERS

## 37. DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has sanctioned any funds for the restoration of rivers and water bodies in Tamil Nadu during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has provided any financial assistance for the revival/restoration of marsh lands  of  Pallikaranai  along  with  the  lakes  and  ponds  situated  in  Chennai  South  Parliamentary Constituency;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government and decision in this regard; and

(d)  the  measures  taken  or  to  be  taken/proposed  by  the  Government  to  protect  the  Pallikaranai marshlands and water bodies from being encroached and devastated by the Government and private projects?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a)  to  (d) Cleaning  and  rejuvenation  of  rivers  is  an  ongoing  process. It  is  the  responsibility  of States/Union Territories (UTs) and Local Bodies to ensure required treatment of sewage and industrial effluents before discharging into rivers and other water bodies, land or coastal waters for prevention and control of pollution therein.

This Ministry, through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)  has  been  supplementing  efforts  of  the  States/UTs  by  providing  financial  and  technical assistance  for  abatement  of  pollution  in  identified  stretches  of  rivers,  on  cost  sharing  basis.  Under NRCP  all  rivers  of  the  country,  excluding  river  Ganga  and  its  tributaries  are  covered.  Different pollution abatement projects which are admissible under NRCP  include  sewerage networks, interception and diversion works, sewage treatment plants (STPs), etc.

Proposals for pollution abatement works in towns along polluted river stretches are received from the States/UTs from time to time for consideration under the NRCP, and sanctioned based on their prioritization, conformity with guidelines, availability of Plan funds, etc.

Under NRCP, pollution abatement projects for the conservation of six rivers  namely Cauvery, Adyar, Cooum, Vaigai, Vennar, and Tamrabarani were sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 908.13 crore for 13 towns, namely Bhiwani, Chennai, Erode, Karur, Kumarapalayam, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Mayiladuthurai, Pallipalayam, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli, Trichirappalli and Trichi, and STPs with a total capacity of 477.66 million litre per day have been created in Tamil Nadu.  Under this scheme, this Ministry has not sanctioned any fund to Govt. of Tamil Nadu during the last five years.

National  Plan  for  Conservation  of  Aquatic  Eco-systems  (NPCA),  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme under Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is being implemented for  conservation  and  management  of  wetlands/lake  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, shoreline protection, lake front development, in-situ cleaning i.e. desilting & de-weeding, storm water management, bio-remediation, catchment area treatment,  lake  beautification,  survey  &  demarcation,  bio-fencing,  fisheries  development,  weed control, bio-diversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation, etc.

During 2017-18 to 2021-22, total funds amounting to Rs 363.10 Lakh was released to Govt. of Tamil Nadu for conservation of wetlands including Pallikarni wetland. The details are given as below.

## (Rs in Lakh)

| S.No.   | Name of wetland   |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 | 2020-21   | 2021-22   |   Total |
|---------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------|
| 1       | KazuveliKaliveli  |     36.56 |     24.94 |     38.31 | -         | -         |   99.81 |
| 2       | Point calimere    |     25.05 |     49.9  |     44.77 | -         | -         |  119.72 |
| 3       | Pallaikarni       |     44.19 |     45.25 |     54.13 | -         | -         |  143.57 |
|         | Total             |    105.8  |    120.09 |    137.21 | -         | -         |  363.1  |

MoEF&CC  notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017. The notification  constituted,  National  Wetlands  Committee  (NWC)  at  Central  level  and  Wetlands Authorities at State and UT to oversee protection, conservation and management of wetlands across the country. The notification also specifies the prohibited activities in the wetlands to safeguard the wetlands from encroachment, pollution, solid waste dumping, etc. Govt of India declared Pallikaranai wetland as Ramsar  site, i.e., Wetland  of International Importance  under  Ramsar convention for its protection, conservation and management.

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