(a) whether the Government has estimated 38 percent of fresh water wetlands, which are our
national assets have been lost during current decade in the country;
(b) if so, whether many wetlands are being used for dumping of waste which also causes
serious environment threat;
(c) if so, the details of the action proposed by the Government to protect country’s
wetlands and prohibit the conversion of wetlands to other use; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a)&(b)No authentic data is available regarding the loss of fresh water wetlands in the
country. However, many of the wetlands are shrinking in size due to anthropogenic pressures,
uncontrolled siltation, weed infestation, discharge of sewage and industrial effluents,
surface run-off, chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
(c)&(d)The Ministry has been implementing a 100% centrally sponsored National Wetland
Conservation Programme under which 115 wetlands covering 26 States/Union Territories have
been identified for undertaking conservation activities to arrest their further degradation.
The activities include survey and demarcation, protection, siltation control, pollution
abatement, catchment area treatment, de-weeding, biodiversity conservation, supplementary
and alternate livelihood support for people dependent on wetlands, community participation,
and education and awareness. An amount of Rs. 86.98 crores has been released from 1987-88 to
2009-10 for conservation of identified wetlands in the country for undertaking various
conservation activities.