Lok Sabha Question No. 2688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Conservation of Wetlands in Himachal Pradesh
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2688 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Conservation of Wetlands in Himachal Pradesh

## 2688. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

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

- (a) the details of wetlands in Himachal Pradesh designated as Ramsar Sites along with year of notification and area covered;
- (b)  the  number  and  names  of  important  non-Ramsar  wetlands  in  the  State  that  have  been identified by the Government for potential inclusion under the Ramsar Convention and the criteria being used for such prioritisation;
- (c)  the  conservation,  monitoring,  funding  and  community-participation  measures  presently being implemented for Ramsar wetlands such as Pong Dam Lake and Renuka Wetland;
- (d) whether recent avifaunal surveys at these wetlands have reported sightings of rare migratory birds including the Song Thrush and other uncommon thrush, waterfowl or wader species; and
- (e)  the  details  of  the  steps  proposed  to  strengthen  long-term  habitat  protection,  scientific research and climate-resilience planning for wetlands across the State with dedicated budgetary allocations and proposed inter-agency coordination mechanisms?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) Three wetlands in Himachal Pradesh have been designated as Ramsar sites, the details of  which are as follows:

|   S. No. | Name of wetland    |   Year of designation |   Area covered (in ha) |
|----------|--------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|
|        1 | Pong Dam Lake      |                  2002 |                  15662 |
|        2 | Renuka Wetland     |                  2005 |                     20 |
|        3 | Chandertal Wetland |                  2005 |                     49 |

(b)     The State Government of Himachal Pradesh has identified six wetlands namely Rewalsar, Prashar,  Khajjiar,  Manimahesh,  Brighu and Nako  for  potential inclusion  under  the  Ramsar Convention. These wetlands have been identified based on the nine criteria for Ramsar sites including ecological  uniqueness,  biodiversity  richness, waterbird congregation, rare  species habitat and hydrological significance.

(c)     The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is currently implementing a centrally  sponsored  scheme  namely,  the  National  Plan  for  Conservation  of  Aquatic  Ecosystems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands including Ramsar sites in the country including Himachal Pradesh, on a 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,  lakefront  development,  in-situ cleaning i.e.  desilting  and  de-weeding, stormwater  management,  bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey and demarcation, bio-fencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation and community participation. Under the scheme of NPCA, financial assistance of Rs. 3.14 crore for Pong Dam and Rs. 2.59 crore for Renuka Wetland has been released so far as Central share to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

Community  Participation  is  ensured  through  orientation  and  training  workshops  of District Level Wetland Committees (DWCs), fishermen training programmes and awareness events such as celebration of World Wetlands Day involving students and teachers across the State.

(d)      As informed by the Government of Himachal Pradesh, an annual bird census or avifaunal survey is conducted every year during the winter season in Pong Dam Lake. As per the latest survey,  sighting  of  some  migratory  species  including  the  Song  Thrush  and  the  uncommon thrush have been reported in this lake.

(e)            The  State  Government of Himachal Pradesh has informed that five-year Integrated Management Plans (IMPs) for the three Ramsar sites, and one year Framework Management Plans (FMPs) for Rewalsar and Dal Wetland have been formulated to strengthen long-term habitat  protection,  scientific  research  and  climate-resilience  planning.  Orientation/training workshops for  DWCs  have  been organized across  districts  focusing  on  multi-departmental approach towards wetland conservation and management at district level.

Further, MoEF&CC, through its National Wetlands Committee, advises on appropriate policies  and  action  programmes  for  the  conservation  and  wise  use  of  wetlands.    Vide  the Wetlands (Conservation and management)  Rules, 2017, the State/UT Wetlands Authorities have also been constituted.

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