Implementation of Wetlands (Conservation And Management) Rules, 2010

The Central Government has notified Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules on 4th December, 2010. Letters have been issued to all the concerned State Governments to designate state nodal agencies, identify wetlands for notification from their states as per guidelines if they are not covered under these rules. Recently on World Wetland Day 2nd February, 2011 a workshop was held at Bharatpur, Rajasthan with the state nodal agencies to discuss the issues related to notification of wetlands from their respective states. Ministry has proposed various regional workshops with the concerned state governments during this financial year for effective implementation of these notified rules. Many of the wetlands in the country are shrinking in size due to encroachment, anthropogenic pressures, uncontrolled siltation, weed infestation, discharge of sewage and industrial effluents, surface run-off, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, etc.

Considering the importance of wetlands, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has identified 115 Wetlands in the country covering 24 States and two Union Territories for conservation under the National Wetland Conservation Programme for which 100% assistance is given to the concerned state governments for undertaking various conservation activities like survey & demarcation, afforestation, catchment area treatment, water management, protection measures, fisheries development, weed control, wildlife conservation, pollution abatement, eco-development, etc. This is also supplemented by research and developmental activities. So far, an amount of Rs. 98.75 crores has been released to the concerned state governments for undertaking conservation activities of identified wetlands under various management action plans. Rapid urbanisation, biotic interference and several anthropogenic pressures are prominent reasons responsible for drying up of wetlands in the country, however, no authentic data is available on these aspects.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh in a written reply to a question by S/S Mahendra Mohan and Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy in Rajya Sabha February 22.