Govt: Over Rs 1,000 cr released under NPCA for conservation of 157 wetlands across country
New Delhi: Over Rs 1,000 crore have been released for the conservation of 157 wetlands in the country under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA), the government informed Parliament on Friday.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on whether the number of lakes has declined substantially across the country over the last few years, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said rapid urbanisation, development activities and anthropogenic pressures do stress water bodies.
On government schemes to save, conserve or revive such lakes, he said the Centre has so far released Rs 1,039 crore for the conservation of 157 wetlands in the country under the NPCA.
"Under the NPCA scheme, the central assistance is based on the proposals received from the state governments, in conformity with the guidelines and budget availability. Accordingly, so far, MoEFCC has sanctioned projects for conservation of 157 wetlands in the country and released an amount of about Rs 1,039 crore as central share," the minister said.
The NPCA is a single conservation programme for both wetlands and lakes. It is a centrally-sponsored scheme, currently being implemented by the environment ministry, and was formulated in 2015 by merging of the National Lake Conservation Plan and the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.
"Rapid urbanisation, developmental activities and anthropogenic pressures do stress water bodies.
"Various departments in the central government and the state governments are engaged in restoration, conservation and preservation of lakes and wetlands. Works related to water resources development and management are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the state governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities," Javadekar said.
He said the ministry is implementing the NPCA for the conservation and management of the identified wetlands, including lakes, in the country on a cost-sharing basis between the Centre and the respective states.
