MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) & (b) The Government has undertaken several measures for conservation of biodiversity of
water bodies in the country through various programmes. These inter alia include the following:
# National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA).
The principal objectives of this scheme are: holistic conservation and restoration of lakes
and wetlands for achieving desired water quality enhancement and improvement in biodiversity
and the ecosystem, through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach.
# National River Conservation Programme (NRCP)
The centrally sponsored National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) presently covers 38 rivers
in 178 towns spread over 20 States. River conservation activities such as creation of civic
infrastructure for sewage management and disposal are also being implemented under other
central schemes, such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, Urban Infrastructure
Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns, as well as under state schemes.
# Conservation of Rivers under National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
Government of India has given Ganga the status of a National River and has constituted
the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) on 20th February 2009 under Section 3(3)
of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The NGRBA is a planning, financing, monitoring
and coordinating body of the centre and the states. The objective of the NGRBA is to ensure
effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin
approach for comprehensive planning and management The Authority has both regulatory and
developmental functions. The Authority takes measures for effective abatement of pollution
and conservation of the river Ganga in keeping with sustainable development needs
(c) to (e) The National Biodiversity Authority does not maintain a systematic record of
the biodiversity in water bodies. However, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is
monitoring rivers for various parameters including physicochemical and biological indicators
species. Based on the monitored data, no trend on deterioration of biodiversity in the rivers
is indicated.
(f) For the promotion and restoration of biodiversity in rivers and other water bodies,
the Government has made a plan allocation of Rs. 1500 crore for conservation of river
under NRCP and NGRBA during the 12th Five Year Plan. The NPCA scheme has an allocation
of Rs.900 crore on 70:30 cost sharing between the Central Government and respective State
Governments (90:10 for North-East States) during the 12th Plan period.
