Over Rs 1000 crore released for conservation of 160 wetlands across India, Govt tells LS
The Centre has released over Rs 1000 crore for conservation of about 160 wetlands across the country under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA).
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Environment Ashwini Kumar Choube said under the NPCA scheme, so far, MoEFCC has sanctioned projects for conservation of 160 wetlands in the country and released an amount of about Rs 1046 crore as Central share, the Parliamenty was informed recently.
Rapid urbanisation, development activities and anthropogenic pressures have stressed water bodies, said Choube when asked if the number of lakes had declined substantially across the country over recent years.
While the Central and state governments take all possible steps for restoration, conservation and preservation of lakes and wetlands, developmental activities and anthropogenic pressures do affect water bodies.
“The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is currently implementing a centrally sponsored scheme, namely National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA), for conservation and management of identified wetlands (includes lakes) in the country on cost sharing basis between the central government and respective state governments. Under the NPCA scheme, the Central assistance is based on the proposals received from the State Governments, conformity with the guidelines and budget availability”, he said.
The minister said in order to supplement the efforts of the state governments, the Union Jal Shakti Ministry provides technical and financial assistance to the state governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes such as surface minor irrigation (SMI), repair, renovation and restoration (RRR) of water bodies schemes etc under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) — Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP).
The NPCA has been planned as a single conservation programme for wetlands and lakes and was formed in 2015 by merging of the National Lake Conservation Plan and the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.
Under it, interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline protection, lakefront development, in-situ cleaning like desilting and de-weeding, stormwater management, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey & demarcation, bio-fencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation, etc are undertaken.
India had 42 wetlands that had been recognised as having international importance and as Ramsar Sites as of December 2020. Wetlands provide several ecological functions besides having economic, cultural, scientific and recreational value. They have been recognised as valuable for flood protection, water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control, natural products and recreation.
