Lok Sabha Question No. 2222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Bhoj Wetland
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2222

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## Bhoj Wetland

## 2222.   SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that Bhoj Wetland in Bhopal faces the threat of being delisted from Ramsar Convention List of wetlands of International importance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government for protecting this wetland; and
- (d) the number of sites added in list across the country during the last three years, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE

CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (d)  As  reported  by  Madhya  Pradesh  State  Wetland  Authority,  Bhoj  Wetland  in  Bhopal faces no threat of delisting from Ramsar Convention list of wetlands of International importance.

Further, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the  Wetlands  (Conservation  and  Management)  Rules,  2017  under  the  provisions  of  the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as regulatory framework for conservation and management of wetlands across the country to conserve, manage and maintain the ecological character of the wetlands without restricting the wise use. The said Rules inter-alia restrict the activities, like solid waste  dumping,  discharge  of  untreated  wastes  and  effluents  from  industries,  cities,  towns, villages and other human settlements. Also Govt. of Madhya Pradesh has issued order vide date 16 th March  2022  for  enforcement  of  Wetland  (Conservation  and  Management)  Rules,  2017  at Bhoj wetland, Bhopal.

MoEF&CC  is  implementing  a  centrally  sponsored  scheme  namely,  National  Plan  for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands in the country including Madhya Pradesh, on cost sharing basis between Central Government and respective  State  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 & deweeding, storm water management, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey & demarcation, bio-fencing, fisheries development, weed control,  biodiversity  conservation,  education  and  awareness  creation,  community  participation, etc.

Based  on  the  proposals  received  from  the  State  Government  of  Madhya  Pradesh,  this Ministry  had  sanctioned  projects  at  a  total  cost  of  ₹  432.03  lakhs  during  2018-2019  for conservation of Bhoj Wetland in Bhopal and central share of ₹ 200.00 lakhs out of  ₹ 259.22 lakhs has been released to Government of Madhya Pradesh for conservation and management of Bhoj wetland.

State-wise details of sites added in list of Ramsar sites across the country during the last three years are given at Annexure .

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2222  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  5/08/2024  REGARDING BHOJ WETLAND RAISED BY SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB.

State-wise details of sites added in list of Ramsar sites across the country during the last three years

|    | State/Union Territory   |    | Wetland                                 | Date of Designation*   |
|----|-------------------------|----|-----------------------------------------|------------------------|
|  1 | Bihar (2)               |  1 | Nagi Bird Sanctuary                     | 11-10-2023             |
|  1 | Bihar (2)               |  2 | Nakti Bird Sanctuary                    | 11-10-2023             |
|  2 | Gujarat (3)             |  3 | Wadhvana Wetland                        | 05-04-2021             |
|  2 | Gujarat (3)             |  4 | Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary            | 05-04-2021             |
|  2 | Gujarat (3)             |  5 | Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary             | 13-04-2021             |
|  3 | Goa (1)                 |  6 | Nanda Lake                              | 08-06-2022             |
|  4 | Haryana (2)             |  7 | Sultanpur National Park                 | 25-05-2021             |
|  4 | Haryana (2)             |  8 | Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary            | 25-05-2021             |
|  5 | Jammu and Kashmir (2)   |  9 | Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve      | 08-06-2022             |
|  5 | Jammu and Kashmir (2)   | 10 | Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve  | 08-06-2022             |
|  6 | Karnataka (4)           | 11 | Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary            | 15-02-2022             |
|  6 | Karnataka (4)           | 12 | Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve   | 10-03-2023             |
|  6 | Karnataka (4)           | 13 | Aghanashini Estuary                     | 14-02-2023             |
|  6 | Karnataka (4)           | 14 | Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve        | 14-02-2023             |
|  7 | Madhya Pradesh (3)      | 15 | Sirpur Wetland                          | 07-01-2022             |
|  7 | Madhya Pradesh (3)      | 16 | Sakhya Sagar                            | 07-01-2022             |
|  7 | Madhya Pradesh (3)      | 17 | Yashwant Sagar                          | 07-01-2022             |
|  8 | Maharashtra (1)         | 18 | Thane Creek                             | 13-04-2022             |
|  9 | Mizoram (1)             | 19 | Pala Wetland                            | 31-08-2021             |
| 10 | Odisha (4)              | 20 | Satkosia Gorge                          | 12-10-2021             |
| 10 | Odisha (4)              | 21 | Tampara Lake                            | 12-10-2021             |
| 10 | Odisha (4)              | 22 | Hirakud Reservoir                       | 12-10-2021             |
| 10 | Odisha (4)              | 23 | Ansupa Lake                             | 12-10-2021             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 24 | Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary            | 08-11-2021             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 25 | Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary              | 08-11-2021             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 26 | Karikili Bird Sanctuary                 | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 27 | Pichavaram Mangrove                     | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 28 | Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest       | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 29 | Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 30 | Vembannur Wetland Complex               | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 31 | Vellode Bird Sanctuary                  | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 32 | Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary     | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 33 | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary             | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 34 | Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex      | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 35 | Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary                  | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 36 | Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary            | 08-04-2022             |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu (15)         | 37 | Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary               | 24-05-2023             |

|     |                   | 38.             | Longwood Shola Reserve Forest   | 24-05-2023      |
|-----|-------------------|-----------------|---------------------------------|-----------------|
| 12. | Uttar Pradesh (2) | 39.             | Haiderpur Wetland               | 13-04-2021      |
| 12. | Uttar Pradesh (2) | 40.             | Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary      | 29-06-2021      |
|     |                   | 40 Ramsar Sites | 40 Ramsar Sites                 | 40 Ramsar Sites |

* Date of designation is taken as the date of signing of designation letter by the Administrative Authority.

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