The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has established wetlands authorities in states and union territories through the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 for notification, conservation, and management of wetlands.
The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA), a centrally sponsored scheme, is being put into place by the Ministry to conserve and manage identified wetlands across the nation on a cost-sharing basis between the central government and the corresponding state governments and union territories.
The scheme includes a number of activities such as interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline protection, lakefront development, in-situ cleaning, stormwater management, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey and demarcation, bio-fencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, and community participation.
On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry launched Mission Sahbhagita, which is a significant step towards participatory conservation and wise use of wetlands to enable a society ownership approach with communities leading at the forefront.
This information was provided in the written response by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. As a part of this mission, the Ministry also started the “Save Wetlands Campaign” on February 4, 2023, in Goa, in observance of International Wetlands Day.
Mission Sahbhagita to enable a society ownership approach for participatory conservation and wise use of Wetlands
Central assistance given for conservation of 165 wetlands, including 42 Ramsar sites across the country
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To further facilitate knowledge sharing, information dissemination, host capacity building materials, and provide a single-point access data repository with the features of Management Information System (MIS) login for each and every state and union territory for on-demand information uploading, the Ministry has launched “Wetlands of India Portal” (indianwetlands.in). It is a publicly accessible information and knowledge platform.
On the basis of suggestions made by the state governments and union territories in the form of Integrated Management Plans that complied with the regulations, it was further stated that the MoEF&CC had authorised the central assistance under the NPCA scheme for the conservation of 165 wetlands across the nation, including 42 Ramsar sites.
Out of above 165 wetlands, 6 wetlands from Gujarat are included in the list. Details of funds released during last two years under NPCA scheme to Government of Gujarat for conservation of wetlands.