Lok Sabha Question No. 446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Amrit Dharohar Scheme, 2019
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Verma, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Dr. Lata Wankhede

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 446

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## Amrit Dharohar Scheme, 2019

446.       SMT. SHAMBHAVI:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL:

DR. LATA WANKHEDE:

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

- (a) the details of the funds allocated, sanctioned, disbursed and the way they are utilized under the Amrit Dharohar Scheme since 2019, State/UT and year-wise;
- (b) the details of the wetlands identified for conservation, restored and managed under the Amrit Dharohar Scheme since its inception, State/UT-wise particularly in Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) the details of the partnerships with global organizations or other countries to adopt best practices for wetland conservation under the Scheme and their outcome;
- (d) the expected role of wetlands conserved under this Scheme play in improving water quality and replenishing groundwater resources;
- (e) the measures taken under the Scheme to preserve Ramsar sites and enhance their ecological significance; and
- (f) whether the Government is considering to expand the scope of the Amrit Dharohar Scheme to cover additional wetlands or address emerging challenges, such as urbanization and pollution, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  &  (b)  The  Amrit  Dharohar  is  an  initiative  under  the  scheme  of  'National  Plan  for Conservation  of  Aquatic  Ecosystems  (NPCA)  launched  in  2023  to  promote  the  unique conservation values of Ramsar  Sites.  The  key  components  are Species  and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihoods and Wetlands Carbon Assessment. The funding under this initiative is  done  through  NPCA. Based on  the  proposals received from various State Governments including Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh under NPCA, the details of funds released as central share during the last three years for the conservation and management of wetlands is annexed .

(c)  to  (f)    India  is  a  signatory  to  the  Ramsar  Convention  on  Wetlands,  which  is  an intergovernmental  treaty  that  provides  the  framework  for  national  action  and  international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Further, global organisations such as WISA, WWF and IUCN are the Knowledge Partners for conservation and management of wetlands in the country.

The salient outcomes of the Amrit Dharohar initiative including the measures taken to preserve Ramsar  sites  and  enhance  their  ecological  significance,  studies  conducted  under  its  key components  and  coordination  with  State  Governments,  Knowledge  Partners  and  Local Communities are as follows:

- (i) Species and Habitat Conservation : Studies for the inventory of flora and fauna of 75 Ramsar Sites have been conducted by the Botanical Survey of India and the Zoological Survey of India, respectively. People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) for Ramsar Sites have been developed or updated. To ensure effective monitoring of the management plans, guidelines for the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) for Indian Wetlands were published and, METT Assessments have so far been completed for 65 Ramsar  Sites.  Ten  educational  videos  on  wetlands  have  also  been  developed  for different  levels  of  school  students,  in  collaboration  with  the  Central  Institute  of Educational Technology, National Council of Educational Research and Training. An implementation framework for the wise use of wetlands was released. A Video on Bird call of flagship species of Ramsar sites of India has also been released.
- (ii) Nature Tourism & Wetlands Livelihoods : The MoEF&CC has collaborated with the Ministry  of  Tourism  to  study  the  subject  matter  and  develop  curricula  for  training programmes on nature tourism and wetlands livelihoods. Trainings under the Alternate Livelihood Programme and Paryavaran Naavik Certification have been conducted for 196 local community members from five Ramsar Sites. In addition, a training module for Nature Guides has been developed under the Green Skill Development Programme of MoEF&CC.
- (iii) Wetlands Carbon Assessment : A 'Standard Operating Procedure for Assessment of Carbon Stock in Wetlands' was released, and has been utilised to assess the Carbonstock of 39 Ramsar Sites across the country.   Methodology for climate co-benefit assessment  for  wetlands  has  been  developed.  Considering  the  high  carbon  storage capacity of peatlands, a Technical Report on 'Peatlands of India: An Overview and Future Roadmap' has been released.

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## Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 446 to be answered on Monday, the 2 nd  February, 2026 on 'Amrit Dharohar Scheme, 2019'

(Rs. In Lakhs)

| Sl. No.          | States            | Name of wetland         | 2023-24          | 2024-25    | 2025-26    |      Total |
|------------------|-------------------|-------------------------|------------------|------------|------------|------------|
| 1                | Arunachal Pradesh | Nikpu Yabik Sinyig Lake | -                | -          | 86.98531   |   86.9853  |
| 1                | Arunachal Pradesh | Yabik Sinying           | -                | -          | 70.99380   |   70.9938  |
| 2                | Bihar             | Gokul Jalasay           | -                | -          | 78.60      |   78.6     |
| 3                | Gujarat           | Khijadia Wetland        | 20.58            | -          | -          |   20.58    |
| 4                | Madhya Pradesh    | Amrit Sagar             | 65.00            | 9.85543    | 43.63261   |  118.488   |
| 4                | Madhya Pradesh    | Sita Sagar              | 216              | -          | 59.10845   |  275.108   |
| 5                | Manipur           | Loktak lake             | 100              | -          | -          |  100       |
| 5                | Manipur           | Waithoum Pat            | -                | 451.444    | -          |  451.444   |
| 5                | Manipur           | Jaimeng                 | -                | 59.409     |            |   59.409   |
| 5                | Manipur           | Yarat Pat               | -                | 264.573    | 76.35      |  340.923   |
| 6                | Mizoram           | Palak                   | 59.20            | 39.47      | 98.03      |  196.7     |
| 6                | Mizoram           | Tamdil                  | 76.41            | 38.205     | 98.7055    |  213.321   |
| 7                | Nagaland          | Doyang                  | 115.632          | 231.264    | 301.86     |  648.756   |
| 8                | Odisha            | Chilika                 | 127.50           | -          | -          |  127.5     |
| 8                | Odisha            | Ansupa                  | -                | 36.68505   | -          |   36.685   |
| 9                | Rajasthan         | Pushkar lake            | 525              | -          | -          |  525       |
| 10               | Sikkim            | Gurudokmar              | 75.00            | 88.25      | 14.23619   |  177.486   |
| 10               | Sikkim            | Khechuperi              | -                | 37.881     | 113.63679  |  151.518   |
| 10               | Sikkim            | Tamzey                  | 65.27            | 195.811    | 76.19999   |  337.281   |
| 10               | Sikkim            | Yanchen Tso             | -                | 86.98275   | 86.95289   |  173.936   |
| 11               | UP                | Lakh Bahosi             | 8.09             | -          | -          |    8.09    |
| 11               | UP                | Samaspur                | 9.13             | -          | 3.90       |   13.03    |
| 11               | UP                | Nawabganj               | 5.32319          | -          | -          |    5.32319 |
| 11               | UP                | Sandi                   | 5.011            | -          | -          |    5.011   |
| 11               | UP                | Keetham                 | 19.83            | 34.83      | -          |   54.66    |
| 11               | UP                | Patna BS                | 27.84            | 21.57      | -          |   49.41    |
| 11               | UP                | Chando Tal              | 35.892           | -          | 4.52090    |   40.4129  |
| 11               | UP                | Saman                   | 24.2682          | 29.4822    | -          |   53.7504  |
| 11               | UP                | Sarsai Nawar            | 16.088           | -          | 7.86257    |   23.9506  |
| 12               | WB                | EKW                     | -                | -          | 18.56537   |   18.5654  |
| Total 1597.06439 | Total 1597.06439  | Total 1597.06439        | Total 1597.06439 | 1625.71243 | 1240.14037 | 4462.92    |