Lok Sabha Question No. 1360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Ramsar Sites
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Devji Mansingram Patel, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1360

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## Ramsar Sites

## 1360.  SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

## SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH NAIK NIMBALKAR:

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

- (a)   the total number of Ramsar sites in the country;
- (b)   whether there is a significant increase in Ramsar Sites in the country since 2015 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)   the steps taken for better preservation and protection of these sites?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) A total of 75 wetlands have been designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar  sites)  till  date,  out  of  which  26  wetlands  were  designated  till  2014  and  49  more wetlands have been designated as Ramsar Sites since 2015. The list of Ramsar sites in India is given in Annexure-1.

(c) MoEF&CC has  notified  the  Wetlands  (Conservation  &  Management)  Rules,  2017 under  the  purview  of  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986,  which  are  applicable  to  all  the notified wetlands and Ramsar sites in the country. As per the provisions of these rules, the State/UT Wetlands Authorities have been constituted which are responsible for protection and conservation of wetlands, including Ramsar sites.

In addition, various provisions of acts and rules namely 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, also stipulate measures for conservation and management of wetlands including Ramsar sites.

MoEF&CC is currently implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands  (including  Ramsar  sites)  in  the  country  on  cost  sharing  basis  between  Central Government and respective State Governments.

Amrit Dharohar is an initiative taken by Government of India in 2023 to promote wise use,  unique  conservation  values  and  services  of  Ramsar  Sites  in  India.  These  include  four components such as Species and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihoods, and Wetlands Carbon Assessment. Amrit Dharohar is being implemented through convergence of ongoing schemes/programmes of different departments and State Governments.

*****

## Annexure-1 referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 1360 to be answered on 11th December, 2023 on 'Ramsar Sites'

The List of wetlands designated as Ramsar Site in India

| S.No.   | Ramsar Site                                            | State                                                  | Date of Designation                                    | Area in ha                                             |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| A       | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 1981-2014: 26 | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 1981-2014: 26 | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 1981-2014: 26 | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 1981-2014: 26 |
| 1.      | Chilika Lake                                           | Odisha                                                 | 01-10-1981                                             | 116500                                                 |
| 2.      | Keoladeo National Park                                 | Rajasthan                                              | 01-10-1981                                             | 2873                                                   |
| 3.      | Harike Lake                                            | Punjab                                                 | 23-03-1990                                             | 4100                                                   |
| 4.      | Sambhar Lake                                           | Rajasthan                                              | 23-03-1990                                             | 24000                                                  |
| 5.      | Loktak Lake                                            | Manipur                                                | 23-03-1990                                             | 26600                                                  |
| 6.      | Wular Lake                                             | Jammu and Kashmir                                      | 23-03-1990                                             | 18900                                                  |
| 7.      | Kanjli                                                 | Punjab                                                 | 22-01-2002                                             | 183                                                    |
| 8.      | Ropar                                                  | Punjab                                                 | 22-01-2002                                             | 1365                                                   |
| 9.      | Ashtamudi Wetland                                      | Kerala                                                 | 19-08-2002                                             | 6140                                                   |
| 10.     | Bhoj Wetland                                           | Madhya Pradesh                                         | 19-08-2002                                             | 3201                                                   |
| 11.     | Deepor Beel                                            | Assam                                                  | 19-08-2002                                             | 4000                                                   |
| 12.     | East Calcutta Wetlands                                 | West Bengal                                            | 19-08-2002                                             | 12500                                                  |
| 13.     | Tsomoriri                                              | Jammu and Kashmir                                      | 19-08-2002                                             | 12000                                                  |
| 14.     | Bhitarkanika Mangroves                                 | Odisha                                                 | 19-08-2002                                             | 65000                                                  |
| 15.     | Kolleru Lake                                           | Andhra Pradesh                                         | 19-08-2002                                             | 90100                                                  |
| 16.     | Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary             | Tamil Nadu                                             | 19-08-2002                                             | 38500                                                  |
| 17.     | Pong Dam Lake                                          | Himachal Pradesh                                       | 19-08-2002                                             | 15662                                                  |
| 18.     | Sasthamkotta Lake                                      | Kerala                                                 | 19-08-2002                                             | 373                                                    |
| 19.     | Vembanad-Kol Wetland                                   | Kerala                                                 | 19-08-2002                                             | 151250                                                 |
| 20.     | Hokera Wetland                                         | Jammu and Kashmir                                      | 08-11-2005                                             | 1375                                                   |
| 21.     | Renuka Wetland                                         | Himachal Pradesh                                       | 08-11-2005                                             | 20                                                     |
| 22.     | Rudrasagar Lake                                        | Tripura                                                | 08-11-2005                                             | 240                                                    |
| 23.     | Surinsar-Mansar Lakes                                  | Jammu and Kashmir                                      | 08-11-2005                                             | 350                                                    |
| 24.     | Chandertal Wetland                                     | Himachal Pradesh                                       | 08-11-2005                                             | 49                                                     |
| 25.     | Upper Ganga River                                      | Uttar Pradesh                                          | 08-11-2005                                             | 26590                                                  |
| 26.     | Nalsarovar                                             | Gujarat                                                | 24-09-2012                                             | 12000                                                  |
| B       | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 2015-2023: 49 | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 2015-2023: 49 | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 2015-2023: 49 | Wetlands Designated as Ramsar Sites from 2015-2023: 49 |
| 27.     | Sundarban Wetland                                      | West Bengal                                            | 30-01-2019                                             | 423000                                                 |
| 28.     | Nandur Madhameshwar                                    | Maharashtra                                            | 21-06-2019                                             | 1437                                                   |
| 29.     | Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary                               | Uttar Pradesh                                          | 19-09-2019                                             | 225                                                    |
| 30.     | Sarsai Nawar Jheel                                     | Uttar Pradesh                                          | 19-09-2019                                             | 161                                                    |
| 31.     | Sandi Bird Sanctuary                                   | Uttar Pradesh                                          | 26-09-2019                                             | 309                                                    |
| 32.     | Beas Conservation Reserve                              | Punjab                                                 | 26-09-2019                                             | 6429                                                   |

|   33. | Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary               | Punjab         | 26-09-2019   |   116 |
|-------|-----------------------------------------|----------------|--------------|-------|
|    34 | Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve        | Punjab         | 26-09-2019   |   344 |
|    35 | Samaspur Bird Sanctuary                 | Uttar Pradesh  | 03-10-2019   |   799 |
|    36 | Saman Bird Sanctuary                    | Uttar Pradesh  | 02-12-2019   |   526 |
|    37 | Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary             | Uttar Pradesh  | 02-12-2019   |   722 |
|    38 | Kabartal Wetland                        | Bihar          | 21-07-2020   |  2620 |
|    39 | Asan Conservation Reserve               | Uttarakhand    | 21-07-2020   |   444 |
|    40 | Lonar Lake                              | Maharashtra    | 22-07-2020   |   427 |
|    41 | Sur Sarovar                             | Uttar Pradesh  | 21-08-2020   |   431 |
|    42 | Tso Kar Wetland Complex                 | Ladakh         | 17-11-2020   |  9577 |
|    43 | Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary            | Gujarat        | 05-04-2021   |   699 |
|    44 | Wadhvana Wetland                        | Gujarat        | 05-04-2021   |   630 |
|    45 | Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary             | Gujarat        | 13-04-2021   |   512 |
|    46 | Haiderpur Wetland                       | Uttar Pradesh  | 13-04-2021   |  6908 |
|    47 | Sultanpur National Park                 | Haryana        | 25-05-2021   |   143 |
|    48 | Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary            | Haryana        | 25-05-2021   |   412 |
|    49 | Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary              | Uttar Pradesh  | 29-06-2021   |  2894 |
|    50 | Pala Wetland                            | Mizoram        | 31-08-2021   |  1850 |
|    51 | Satkosia Gorge                          | Odisha         | 12-10-2021   | 98197 |
|    52 | Tampara Lake                            | Odisha         | 12-10-2021   |   300 |
|    53 | Ansupa Lake                             | Odisha         | 12-10-2021   |   231 |
|    54 | Hirakud Reservoir                       | Odisha         | 12-10-2021   | 65400 |
|    55 | Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary            | Tamil Nadu     | 08-11-2021   |    72 |
|    56 | Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary              | Tamil Nadu     | 08-11-2021   |   260 |
|    57 | Sirpur Wetland                          | Madhya Pradesh | 07-01-2022   |   161 |
|    58 | Sakhya Sagar                            | Madhya Pradesh | 07-01-2022   |   248 |
|    59 | Yashwant Sagar                          | Madhya Pradesh | 07-01-2022   |   823 |
|    60 | Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary            | Karnataka      | 15-02-2022   |   518 |
|    61 | Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu     | 08-04-2022   | 52672 |
|    62 | Vembannur Wetland Complex               | Tamil Nadu     | 08-04-2022   |    20 |
|    63 | Vellode Bird Sanctuary                  | Tamil Nadu     | 08-04-2022   |    77 |
|    64 | Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary     | Tamil Nadu     | 08-04-2022   |    44 |
|    65 | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary             | Tamil Nadu     | 08-04-2022   |    40 |
|    66 | Karikili Bird Sanctuary                 | Tamil Nadu     | 08-04-2022   |    58 |

| 67.   | Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest      | Tamil Nadu        | 08-04-2022   | 1248      |
|-------|----------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------|-----------|
| 68.   | Pichavaram Mangrove                    | Tamil Nadu        | 08-04-2022   | 1479      |
| 69.   | Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary                 | Tamil Nadu        | 08-04-2022   | 113       |
| 70.   | SuchindramTheroor Wetland Complex      | Tamil Nadu        | 08-04-2022   | 94        |
| 71.   | Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary           | Tamil Nadu        | 08-04-2022   | 97        |
| 72.   | Thane Creek                            | Maharashtra       | 13-04-2022   | 6521      |
| 73.   | Nanda Lake                             | Goa               | 08-06-2022   | 42        |
| 74.   | Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve     | Jammu and Kashmir | 08-06-2022   | 802       |
| 75.   | Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve | Jammu and Kashmir | 08-06-2022   | 1675      |
|       | Total Area                             | Total Area        | Total Area   | 13,26,678 |