Question : Conservation of Wetlands

(a) the details of wetlands identified in the country, State-wise;

(b) whether several wetlands have been encroached upon and others have disappeared;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken for protection and preservation of wetlands including small wetlands that have not been notified;

(d) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the report by the Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (CWRDM) on the threat to wetlands in North Kerala due to rampant human encroachment; and

(e) if so, the action taken against the concerned authorities for posing a threat to the ecology of the area along with the specific measures taken for conservation of the said wetlands?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)to (e)A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 123 to be answered on Tuesday , the 3rd May, 2016 on ‘Conservation of Wetlands ’ raised by Shri Feroze Varun Gandhi and Shri Ch. Malla Reddy.

(a) The Ministry has so far, identified 115 wetlands in 24 States and two Union Territories for conservation and management under the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP). The State-wise list of these wetlands is given in Annexure.

(b) & (c) A few wetlands in the country have reportedly been impacted due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, various developmental activities and other anthropogenic pressures. This Ministry had been earlier implementing two separate programmes, namely National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) and National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) for conservation and management of identified lakes and wetlands in the country. To have better synergy and avoid overlap, both the programmes have been merged in February, 2013 into an integrated scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA). The various activities covered under the scheme include interception, diversion and treatment of waste water, shore line protection, lake front development, de-silting, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey & demarcation, bio-fencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation and community participation, etc. So far, an amount of ?.146.94 crore has been released to the States and other organizations for conservation and management of identified wetlands in the country.

The Central Government has notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 for conservation and management of wetlands in the country. Under the Rules, 26 wetlands designated as Ramsar sites have been notified for regulation of activities within the wetlands. Also, in order to conserve lakes, wetlands and other water bodies in an integrated manner, all the States have been advised for giving high priority for constitution of State wetland/ lake authorities, identification and notification of priority wetlands, development of integrated management plans, securing resources for implementation of management plans, monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening research-management interface, etc.

(d) & (e) The Government of Kerala have informed that the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode has prepared a detailed Management Action Plan (MAP) for Kavvayi wetland of North Kerala in 2014. The report reveals that Kavvayi, a large coastal backwater wetland, is facing threat from land reclamation and encroachment, rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, various developmental activities and other anthropogenic pressures. The CWRDM has subsequently undertaken a project sanctioned by the Government of Kerala for the implementation of some of the selected components under the MAP of Kavvayi wetland through various Local Self Government institutions and departments such as Fisheries, Forest, Irrigation, etc.

The Government of Kerala has also set up the State Wetland Authority, Kerala in November, 2015 under the chairmanship of Minister of Environment, Government of Kerala for conservation and management of all wetlands and lakes in the State, including North Kerala, in a holistic and integrated manner.

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