(a) whether rejuvenation of wetlands can aid in storage of millions of gallons of flood water and in recharging ground water resulting in enhancing the river flow during lean period;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is running projects for rejuvenation of wetlands in the country; and
(d) whether the said projects are running successfully in the country and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) & (b) Yes Sir. Rejuvenation and restoration of wetlands help in enhancing the river flow during lean period as the wetlands are vital parts of the hydrological cycle and highly productive ecosystems which provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification, flood mitigation, erosion control, aquifer recharge, microclimate regulation, etc.
(c)& (d) Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change is supporting the States and Union Territories for conservation and management of wetlands in the country through a centrally sponsored scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA). Under the scheme, financial support is provided on cost sharing basis between Central Government and respective State Governments for various activities such as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline protection, lake front development, in-situ cleaning i.e. de-silting & de-weeding, storm water management, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey & demarcation, bio-fencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation, etc. This Ministry has sanctioned 155 projects for conservation of wetlands since 1987- 88 for achieving the desired water quality enhancement, besides improvement in biodiversity.
The Ministry recently took up work for restoration and rejuvenation of 130 wetlands. A four pronged strategy was prepared and the nodal officers of these wetlands were trained in preparing focused management plans and also in working out the health of the wetland. For the first time in the country, wetlands were graded between A to E as per their health.
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