National Policies and Programmes for Wetland Conservation
National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP)
- Launched: 2001 by MoEFCC.
- Objective: Restore and conserve polluted/degraded urban and semi-urban lakes.
- Key activities:
- Preventing pollution by intercepting, diverting, and treating wastewater.
- Cleaning lakes through desilting, de-weeding, aeration, nutrient reduction, bio-remediation, and eco-technologies.
- Catchment area treatment: afforestation, stormwater drainage.
- Strengthening lake bunds, fencing, shoreline development, and eco-development.
- Promoting public awareness, research, training, and stakeholder participation.
National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP)
- Launched: 1985-86
- Aim: Prevent further degradation of wetlands and promote their wise use.
- Objectives:
- Formulate policy guidelines for wetland conservation.
- Financial and technical assistance to states/UTs for wetland protection.
- Inventory of wetlands and monitoring implementation.
- Central government coordinates and supports, while states implement conservation at ground level.
Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM)
- Established under the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in Chennai.
- Supports national and state governments in:
- Policy design and implementation
- Research, monitoring, and management planning
- Building partnerships with national and international agencies.
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
- Superseded the 2010 Rules for more effective, decentralised management.
- Key features:
- Responsibility shifted to State/UT Wetlands Authorities, while the centre retains oversight.
- Replaced Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority with an advisory National Wetlands Committee.
- State/UT authorities to identify wetlands, regulate activities, and prohibit encroachments, dumping, and untreated discharges.
- Promotes conservation based on wise use principle, balancing ecology and human needs.
Criticisms:
- Exclusion of paddy fields, man-made water bodies, aquaculture tanks, and river channels leaves ~65% wetlands unprotected.
- Lack of uniformity across states in defining and managing wetlands.
- Absence of timeline for removing encroachments or untreated waste.
- Ignores Jagpal Singh vs Punjab (2011) Supreme Court judgment on wetland restoration.
National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)
- Launched: 2015, combining NLCP and NWCP.
- Aim: Unified conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands.
- Focus: Better administrative coordination and prevention of redundancy.
- Target: Restore 130 wetlands in five years, with states preparing integrated management plans.
Amrit Darohar Scheme
- Announced in 2023-24 Union Budget.
- 3-year programme empowering local communities in wetland conservation.
- Goals:
- Enhance biodiversity and carbon storage in wetlands.
- Promote eco-tourism and sustainable livelihoods.
- Foster community participation for wetland restoration and wise use.